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Comments:  115
Last update - 16:19 07/01/2009
UN rejects IDF claim Gaza militants operated from bombed-out school
By Akiva Eldar, Amos Harel, Amira Hass, Avi Issacharoff and Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondents, and The Associated Press

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That does not necessarily contradict Israel's claim that the militants were operating close by, Gunness said.

Gunness put the death toll of the shelling at 40, and added that the agency wants an impartial investigation of witnesses, Israeli military photographs or any other evidence.

The IDF on Tuesday released video footage from 2007 showing Palestinian militants firing from the school compound and carrying a rocket launcher with them as they flee the scene.



Gunnes said the 2007 video bears no connection to Tuesday's military strike on the school.

The IDF bombed the UNRWA school, Fakhura, on Tuesday after militants fired mortars at troops from inside the school, according to the IDF Spokesman's Office. The bodies of militants were found inside, it added.

Three shells hit the girls elementary school, which is located near the Jabalya refugee camp, according to Gunness.

Fakhura, like many other UNRWA schools, was serving as a refuge for people who had been forced to flee their homes.

"The initial examination conducted with forces operating in the area shows that mortar shells were fired from within the school at IDF forces. The IDF returned fire," the IDF Spokesman's Office said, adding, "In the past Hamas has fired at Israeli troops from within the school, making cynical use of civilians."

The casualties included Hamas militants Imad and Hassan Abu Askhar, both of whom had fired mortar shells at troops from the school, the spokesman said.

UNRWA demanded an independent investigation and the indictment of anyone found to have violated international law.

Many of the victims have still not been identified.

This is the second UNRWA school the IDF has shelled in 24 hours.

About 15 hours before Fakhura was shelled, at about midnight on Monday, the IDF fired a missile at UNRWA's Asma school, in the Shati refugee camp north of Gaza City, killing three members of the Al-Sultan family - Hussein, 24, Abed, 19, and Rawhi, 25 - as they emerged from the toilets in the courtyard.

Gunness said that UNRWA gave the IDF the coordinates of all of the 23 schools that are serving as refuges for the 14,000 people forced to flee their homes. Each of the schools hit on Tuesday housed about 400 people.

Meanwhile, a top world Islamic body accused Israel on Wednesday of war crimes in its Gaza offensive and said it should face an international court after the school attack.

"This is a brutal crime and a clear war crime, along with other attacks, and its perpetrators must not escape an international trial," Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) said in a statement.

The 57-nation OIC, based in Jeddah, represents over one billion Muslims. The body, whose charter dates back to the early 1970s when Islamic nations were divided along the lines of the Cold War, has little political power.

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      1.   More IDF propaganda... 04:02  |  Maureen Ann 07/01/09
      2.   That`s a Lie - UNRWA Chief Says 04:11  |  Tamir 07/01/09
      3.   Hamas must no be able to get away with this 04:11  |  Sam Viroslav 07/01/09
      4.   Public Opinion comes and go, For Israel deterance must last 04:20  |  Simon 07/01/09
      5.   What is the point ? 04:20  |  Fredy Toiber 07/01/09
      6.   Give me a break 05:42  |  Joe 07/01/09
      7.   To #2 05:46  |  Boris 07/01/09
      8.   Obviously, Israel would be accused of lying 05:50  |  Yuriy 07/01/09
      9.   Un school 06:08  |  walter 07/01/09
      10.   UNRWA shouldn`t give a shelter to HAMAS! Shame on UN 06:09  |  Vittorio 07/01/09
      11.   since their is only arabic press there 06:14  |  larzbeach 07/01/09
      12.   When thugs hide behind civilians and fire at civilians they ... 06:18  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 07/01/09
      13.   Justice 06:21  |  Justice 07/01/09
      14.   The IDF says....... 06:22  |  Johnboy 07/01/09
      15.   T0 Tamir 06:25  |  Viktor 07/01/09
      16.   Typical pals 06:28  |  Adrian de Klerk 07/01/09
      17.   DEAL IS NEAR 06:29  |  Danny 07/01/09
      18.   Schools and mosques of GAZA are shelters for HAMAS. 06:33  |  Vittorio 07/01/09
      19.   TAMIR UNWRA chief was in Israel NOTon the spot in Gaza 08:06  |  PETER SM 07/01/09
      20.   JOE Hamas could chose to fight out in the open 08:11  |  PETER SM 07/01/09
      21.   Human shields & IDF tactics 08:38  |  Steve 07/01/09
      22.   They were children 08:41  |  Osman AYDIN 07/01/09
      23.   some millitary expert 08:42  |  Rab Burns 07/01/09
      24.   Human Shields a Lie? 08:43  |  James 07/01/09
      25.   #2 Tamir 08:44  |  Joe W 07/01/09
      26.   Read about the True Tragedy of the Palestinian People 08:45  |  James 07/01/09
      27.   The school was booby-trapped with bombs 08:45  |  BZ 07/01/09
      28.   OF COURSE- WOULD ISRAEL LIE? 08:47  |  Fritz 07/01/09
      29.   #20 Armies are ALLOWED to defend cities, PSM. 08:50  |  Johnboy 07/01/09
      30.   An independent investigation is a must 08:51  |  Steve the Pals. 07/01/09
      31.   Hamas is hiding among the civilian population 08:53  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 07/01/09
      32.   Remember the Canadian UN Soldier Last Phone Call to His Wife 08:59  |  Joseph.E 07/01/09
      33.   a woman in gaza wails: "where are our leaders?" 08:59  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 07/01/09
      34.   What`s the difference? 09:31  |  Can 07/01/09
      35.   for those that think this was intentional 09:32  |  Seargent 07/01/09
      36.   STEVE the Pals firing from amongst civillians is a war crime 09:33  |  PETER SM 07/01/09
      37.   Osman #22... when being attacked with mortars 10:07  |  Esther 07/01/09
      38.   Johnboy defends Hamas tactics 10:07  |  Peter Williams 07/01/09
      39.   Avoidable Civilian Casualties 10:11  |  Mark of Lewiston 07/01/09
      40.   CAN 34 - get your facts straight 10:14  |  ChanahS 07/01/09
      41.   Steve the Pals 30 10:36  |  ChanahS 07/01/09
      42.   stupid 10:38  |  Tina 07/01/09
      43.   to Osman 10:43  |  Harry 07/01/09
      44.   meshal et al hiding in damascus, 10:43  |  Fancy Hotels while 07/01/09
      45.   Osman 22 10:45  |  ChanahS 07/01/09
      46.   Where are Hamas leaders? 10:48  |  Star of David 07/01/09
      47.   of course they were but 10:51  |  David 07/01/09
      48.   David in London: An Answer 11:32  |  ERSB 07/01/09
      49.   Hamas cowards hiding in UN Schools- blame IDF 11:35  |  Frank 07/01/09
      50.   that is no lie 11:38  |  Maerton 07/01/09
      51.   @ 33 the leaders are the first to be saved to proclaim victory 11:41  |  Jew- and Bookburner 07/01/09
      52.   DeJa Vous - all over again! 11:43  |  Fritz 07/01/09
      53.   UN - history of biais 11:49  |  Frank 07/01/09
      54.   Bombing of schools 12:06  |  Michael 07/01/09
      55.   AP witnesses show Hamas was in UN school 12:10  |  Mike 07/01/09
      56.   Mark of Lewiston and the 99% 12:11  |  f. muir 07/01/09
      57.   UN?..the biggest joke around 12:17  |  Hans 07/01/09
      58.   #31 CJK 12:17  |  Roo 07/01/09
      59.   Al Aqsa 12:20  |  Miki Less 07/01/09
      60.   But will Hamas leadership stand trial 12:20  |  Rob 07/01/09
      61.   Fire or no fire the IDF shouldn`t have targeted the school 12:27  |  Dutch 07/01/09
      62.   #47 - David 12:36  |  Beatrice 07/01/09
      63.   http://www.youtube.com/user/idfnadesk 12:40  |  Jo 07/01/09
      64.   disgraceful UN 12:46  |  Lies and deception 07/01/09
      65.   Shame on the cowards hiding among civilians. 12:47  |  Shame on the UN 07/01/09
      66.   Israel is putting the clamp on foreign media to enter Gaza 12:49  |  A Bethlehemite 07/01/09
      67.   a million people sleeping in bomb shelters. 12:51  |  Israel protects its 07/01/09
      68.   Slaughter of civilians 12:51  |  Murray 07/01/09
      69.   Who is using Human Shields? 12:55  |  Rayn 07/01/09
      70.   So here`s what probably happened. 13:02  |  Michael 07/01/09
      71.   #38 You need to back up accusations with evidence, Peter Williams 13:02  |  Johnboy 07/01/09
      72.   #47 You might like to read up a bit on that, David 13:05  |  Johnboy 07/01/09
      73.   UNRWA school bombed by Israel Defense Forces 13:07  |  Mae White 07/01/09
      74.   Israel bombs Danish Mobile Clinics 13:10  |  Carsten 07/01/09
      75.   #24 Why, exactly, James? 13:11  |  Johnboy 07/01/09
      76.   #58, Roo, very odd indeed 13:14  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 07/01/09
      77.   Un school hit. 13:26  |  Jew supporter 07/01/09
      78.   Hamas fires from civilian areas 13:26  |  Chris76543 07/01/09
      79.   #68 Murray - Milan - Dont` change my words again 13:27  |  *BEN JABO 07/01/09
      80.   Shame! What more can be said? 16:16  |  Yaakov Sullivan 07/01/09
      81.   Right...... 16:16  |  Magnus K. 07/01/09
      82.   cipora = where are our leaders? 16:20  |  mariapalestina 07/01/09
      83.   Johnboy I have some links proving dishonesty of your sources. 16:23  |  David`s supporter 07/01/09
      84.   Johnboy - the disingenuous 16:24  |  Joe W 07/01/09
      85.   But they operated next to the school 16:27  |  Zev 07/01/09
      86.   Who`s to blame? 16:29  |  Mike 07/01/09
      87.   ben jabo jabbering 18:01  |  Yaakov Sullivan 07/01/09
      88.   Gunness is well known to be a liar for hamas. 18:04  |  Indra 07/01/09
      89.   UNRWA 18:07  |  Helen 07/01/09
      90.   Hamas bunkers probably under Shifa hospital 18:15  |  Free Gilad Shalit 07/01/09
      91.   Rockets etc Just An Excuse 18:17  |  Gray 07/01/09
      92.   To all pro-Hamas fools commenting here.. 20:26  |  Dutch Texan 07/01/09
      93.   #88 Indra of Mumbai 20:34  |  Lynn 07/01/09
      94.   They were 2 streets away. No85 20:34  |  Palestinain Brit 07/01/09
      95.   IDF using a 2007 video as evidence? 21:28  |  Tony Price 07/01/09
      96.   #90 23:30  |  Anna A 07/01/09
      97.   UNRWA is a terror support group 23:31  |  Kevin 07/01/09
      98.   #90 23:31  |  Anna A 07/01/09
      99.   PAL BRIT Re Your direct hits on Israeli schools & kindys 23:52  |  PETER SM 07/01/09
      100.   #84 You beggar belief, Joe W 23:53  |  Johnboy 07/01/09
      101.   JOHNBOY Both this war and the battleground is Hamas` choice 02:42  |  PETER SM 08/01/09
      102.   #72 Johnboy 04:52  |  Moshe 08/01/09
      103.   #87 Yacub Sullivan 04:56  |  *BEN JABO 08/01/09
      104.   #95 Tony Price Not as evidence, as examples 05:01  |  *BEN JABO 08/01/09
      105.   Johnboy # 100 You Got It Right At Last (2nd Try) 05:09  |  Jeff Northridge 08/01/09
      106.   25 year old "Children" 05:10  |  UsedToPostHere 08/01/09
      107.   Support IDF 100% 05:16  |  Peter 08/01/09
      108.   If Gazans want a speedier end to war, ... 06:23  |  Jasper 08/01/09
      109.   There is no "independent" investigation 06:34  |  Moises 08/01/09
      110.   Reports that fire did not come from within school 10:48  |  Dan 08/01/09
      111.   NYTimes shows that MILITANTS WERE OPERATING NEAR SCHOOL 11:07  |  Moshe 08/01/09
      112.   Pointing out some foreign press reports 15:01  |  Johnboy 08/01/09
      113.   #83 5th attempt to respond to DS 15:05  |  Johnboy 08/01/09
      114.   #101 5th attempt to respond to PETER SM 15:07  |  Johnboy 08/01/09
      115.   #111 It says nothing of the sort, Moshe - 2nd try 15:16  |  Johnboy 08/01/09
     Read & React
    UN Security Council calls for immediate Gaza truce
    Responses: 173
    UN: IDF officers admit Gaza school shelling was by mistake
    Responses: 132
    Akiva Eldar: Israeli rejection of Gaza deal may topple Abbas
    Responses: 71
    Gideon Levy: Those who justify Gaza war justify all of its crimes
    Responses: 254
    Bernard Avishai, Sam Bahour: Israel playing into Hamas' hands
    Responses: 70


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