Gaza: There are confirmed
reports that Israel has targeted a UN run School in Gaza city killing
at least 40 among those a majority of them
children. The school took a direct hit and according to media reports
the strike caused a large explosion which resulted in shrapnel sparying on
to people inside and outside the school premises.
The Al-Fakhura school is
located in the Jabaliya refugee camp and at the time of direct hit a large
number of Palestinians have take refuge in the school to escape heavy
fighting between Hamas and Israeli ground forces.
Al-Fakhura school is
amongst a number of UN run institutions providing shelter to an estimated
14,000 Palestinians who have taken refuge. This is the second such incident
where Israel has targeted UN premises in Gaza. In an earlier incident
Israeli fighter jets bombed a UN run school in the Bureij refugee camp
resulting in many casualties.
Arab television footage
has shown bodies scattered on the floor amid pools of blood. The casualties
were taken to two hospital in Gaza, Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya
district where 30 people were declared dead and at Al-Shifa Hospital in the
heart of Gaza City where 10 people have died so far. The Palestinian medical
sources expect the casualties to rise further.
The Head of UNRWA in
Gaza has described the situation in Gaza as "Horrific" and has appealed to
the international community for urgent medical relief including blood which
is in short supply. The agency has also said that there is severe
shortage of clean drinking water and fear of spread of cholera and other
diseases as the only sewage pumping station in Gaza is running short on
fuel.
This terrible incident
has happened despite the fact that UNRWA has provided Israel with the GPS
Coordinates of all its premises in Gaza including schools and relief
shelters. In addition the UN insignia as well as UN flag is there on all UN
run premises in Gaza.
