15 Jan 2009

Israeli strikes have struck at least three high-rise buildings in Gaza City, including a main compound of UN agency for refugees.

The UN complex was targeted by at least three white phosphorous bombs.

The Thursday attack set the UN high-rise building on fire. According to a spokesman from the UNRWA, tens of millions of dollars worth of humanitarian aid has been destroyed in the blaze.

UNRWA suspended its Gaza operations following the attack.

The incident took place earlier on Thursday as the Israeli military intensified its attacks on the besieged Gazans -- who have been under constant fire for 20 straight days.

The attacks also left five members of a family killed in the northern Gazan town of Jabaliya.

Meanwhile, Israeli tanks have advanced to within 2 kilometers of Gaza City where they have engaged resistance fighters.

Nearly 1,100 Palestinians -- many of them women and children -- have been killed and 4,700 have been wounded since Israel launched its offensive against the Palestinian territory on December 27.

MSH/MMN/AA