Gaza War: Tank shell horror for refugees sheltering at UN school

 
Wounded: a child receives treatment today at a hospital in Beit Lahia, Gaza
30 July 2014

A devastating Israeli tank attack on a crowded United Nations school in Gaza today killed at least 15 Palestinians and wounded 90 others.

Huge holes were left in the school’s roof, with the front wall of one classroom completely blown out. It was being used as a safe-haven by hundreds of Palestinians seeking shelter from Israel’s offensive against Hamas militants.

Adnan Abu Hasn, a spokesmam for the UN Relief and Works Agency, said the attack on the Abu Hussein School in the Jebaliya refugee camp begun at about 4.30am when a series of shells hit the buildings. Principal Fayez Abu Dayeh said there were a few minutes between each shell, with two classrooms and a bathroom hit.

Israel, which has accused the militant group Hamas of using schools as bases to launch rockets, said it was investigating. The strike followed the worst day of fighting in Gaza which left 128 Palestinians dead and the territory’s power plant, TV stations and other key buildings in ruins. At least 1,200 Palestinians and 55 Israelis have been killed since Israel launched its offensive on July 8.

The UNRWA is sheltering more than 200,000 displaced by the fighting at dozens of schools in Gaza. Yesterday it reported finding a cache of rockets at one in central Gaza.

About two hours after the Jebaliya strike, hundreds still crowded the courtyard, some dazed, others wailing. Aishe Abu Darabeh, 56, who was seated on the ground a few metres from the destroyed classroom said: “Where will we go next? We fled and they (the Israelis) are following us.”

Four were killed just outside the school compound, two in their home and two were struck in the street after returning from pre-dawn prayers, their relatives said.

Spokesman Mr Abu Hasna said the international community must step in. “It’s the responsibility of the world to tell us what we shall do with more than 200,000 people who are inside our schools, thinking that the UN flag will protect them. This incident today proves that no place is safe in Gaza.”

The Israeli military said today it had hit 75 sites, including five mosques it claimed were being used by the militants.

Israel has vowed to stop the Hamas rocket and mortar fire that has reached increasingly deeper into its territory and to destroy a sophisticated network of Hamas military tunnels used for attacks in Israel.

Hamas has so far rejected ceasefire efforts unless its demands are met, including a lifting of a punishing blockade on the territory.

An Israeli army statement said that since yesterday morning, troops have demolished three more tunnels leading from Gaza to Israel. It said 32 have so far been located but did not say how many remain.

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