Advertisement
Operation Protective Edge

Early morning shelling kills 16 at UN school shelter in Gaza

People displaced by war were living at the school.

Mideast Israel Palestinians Lefteris Pitarakis Lefteris Pitarakis

ISRAELI BOMBARDMENTS EARLY today killed “dozens” of Palestinians in Gaza, including at least 16 at a UN school, medics said, on day 23 of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

A shelling shortly after 5.30am (2.30am GMT) killed 16 people at the UN school being used as a shelter for those displaced by the war, a UN official told AFP.

Mideast Israel Palestinians A Palestinian man grieves the death of his relative following an Israeli strike at a U.N. school in Jebaliya refugee camp Khalil Hamra Khalil Hamra

Gaza’s emergency services spokesman put the death toll at “dozens”, after giving an initial count of 20.

Mideast Israel Palestinians A Palestinian girl cries while receiving treatment for her injuries caused by an Israeli strike at a U.N. school in Jebaliya refugee camp Khalil Hamra Khalil Hamra

A shelling earlier in the northern Gaza Strip killed an 11-year-old girl who had a disability, emergency services spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said, with a subsequent shelling in the centre of the small coastal territory killing a 16-year-old girl.

Mideast Israel Palestinians Palestinians gather outside a classroom at the Abu Hussein U.N. school in Jebaliya refugee camp Lefteris Pitarakis Lefteris Pitarakis

A strike shortly afterwards in the southern city of Khan Yunis killed 10 members of a single family, Qudra said, including one child who could not immediately be identified.

A middle-aged man was killed early in the morning in the southern city of Rafah.

Mideast Israel Palestinians Israeli soldiers carry the coffin of Sgt. Barkay Shor, who was killed in the fighting in Gaza AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

The deaths brought Wednesday’s Palestinian toll to at least 29, with the total count from an Israeli operation to stamp out militant rocket fire to nearly 1,260, according to Qudra’s latest figures.

Mideast Israel Palestinians Israeli soldiers work on their armored personnel carrier near the Israel Gaza border AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

On the Israeli side, militant fire, including cross-border rocket fire, has killed 53 Israeli soldiers in addition to three civilians inside Israel.

- © AFP, 2014

Read: “Over 100″ Palestinians killed as Israel ramps up attacks on Gaza>

Your Voice
Readers Comments
240
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.