War in Gaza: Israel accused of killing 30 after shelling safe house
Philippe Naughton, and Martin Fletcher on the Gaza border
The United Nations has accused Israel of evacuating scores of Palestinians
into a house in the suburbs of Gaza City, only to shell the property 24
hours later, killing some 30 people.
In a report
published today on what it called "one of the gravest incidents"
of the 14-day conflict, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA) complained that the Israeli Defence Force then prevented
medical teams from entering the area to evacuate the wounded, including
young children.
The Israeli military said it was investigating the claim but had no knowledge
of the incident.
Citing "several testimonies" - but without identifying its sources -
OCHA said that Israeli foot soldiers evacuated around 110 Palestinians into
a house in Zeitun, south of Gaza City, on Sunday. Half of them were
children.
"Twenty-four hours later, Israeli forces shelled the home repeatedly,
killing approximately 30," OCHA said. "Those who survived and were
able walked two kilometres to Salah Ed Din road before being transported to
the hospital in civilian vehicles. Three children, the youngest of whom was
five months old, died upon arrival at the hospital."
[u]http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5482850.e...