UN: Israeli Shells Hit Aid Compound

By: Tucker Reals
Topics: World Watch

(AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

A spokesman for the United Nations humanitarian relief agency in Gaza says Israeli shells containing the controversial chemical white phosphorus struck their compound in Gaza City Thursday, setting at least one building on fire and injuring three people.

UNRWA spokesman Johan Eriksson told the British Broadcasting Corp. via phone from Jerusalem that he had just spoken to the agency's boss in Gaza City, who confirmed to him that at least three shells containing white phosphorus hit their sprawling compound.

"Fire is raging inside our compound. It is inside a mechanical workshop," Eriksson told the BBC, adding that shipping pallets loaded with humanitarian aid were also on fire inside the compound.

"Firefighters cannot do anything. White phosphorus has landed and these fires cannot be put out," said Eriksson. "Three people inside the compound are injured so far."

He said hundreds of Palestinian refugees were being sheltered at the sprawling compound, but they were at least a couple hundred yards away from the fire. However, he warned that the blaze was dangerously close — just several yards — to fuel tankers and a fuel pump on the compound grounds.

Eriksson said senior U.N. officials were in constant contact with "the highest level of the Israeli Army" and were urging them to "stop firing in the immediate vicinity of the compound."

"So far our calls have been unheard," he said.

The shelling came as United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was in Jerusalem Thursday to push a cease-fire agreement. According to the Associated Press, Ban had expressed "strong protest and outrage over the incident."

The AP said Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Ban it had been a "grave mistake." There was no comment from the Israelis on the alleged use of white phosphorus.

Eriksson said the senior UNRWA official in Gaza City, John Ging, was a former Irish soldier and had confirmed the use of white phosphorus.

Use of the incendiary chemical has not been completely banned, but aid groups have said Israel's use of it in densely populated areas violates internationally accepted rules of combat. Israel maintains it only uses weapons in accordance with international laws.

Tucker Reals
Tucker Reals is a senior news editor and overnight site editor for CBSNews.com, based at CBS News' London bureau.

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by jgg00005 January 15, 2009 3:46 PM EST: cut the ***,

when i discuss i don''''t do myths... only facts.

Iran never advocated the distruction of Israel by force. They always said that they will never attack unless in selfdefense. And the plead for the dismanteling of Israel, not the distruction of it by violence.

Posted by Avi_J

umm, you might wanna check the news. Ahmadinajad is saying "it''s not feasible for israel to live".; Reply to this comment


by avi_j January 15, 2009 1:42 PM EST: Then i kindely request from you a source that proofs i am wrong.; Reply to this comment


by avi_j January 15, 2009 1:38 PM EST: cut the ***,

when i discuss i don''t do myths... only facts.

Iran never advocated the distruction of Israel by force. They always said that they will never attack unless in selfdefense. And the plead for the dismanteling of Israel, not the distruction of it by violence.; Reply to this comment


by avi_j January 15, 2009 1:33 PM EST: What a stupid lie is it to say that Iran whant to blow Israel off the face off teh earth.

Iran whan''t the dismanteling of the Jewish state. That''s a whole diffrent thing.

I also am for the destruction of Israel. Wich means dismanteling of this colony and a creation of 1 democratic state where everybody is equal.

So Iran never pleaded for bombing or burning Israel, but the advocated the dismanteling of this racist colony. So that''s a whole differnt thing.

It''s always the zionist propaganda that tells that Iran want''s to kill or Hamas wants to push Jews in the sea. But there is abslolutely no proof for that. And Iran has alwas been very clear on that.

You Americans are always so fooled by Israel. The rob your tax money while you are watching.; Reply to this comment


by trishab59-02 January 15, 2009 1:29 PM EST: Avi_J ... Where the HELL have you been. Iran wants to blow Israel off the face of the earth.
--------------------------------
Posted by mr02258 at 10:25 AM : Jan 15, 2009

-That is an assertion full of sh*t. Noone has said that except the maniaco-depressive schizophrenic Zionists who lied us about Iraq and drove us into that land with three trillion $ of warfare spilled all over the Iraqi desert.; Reply to this comment


by trishab59-02 January 15, 2009 1:24 PM EST: Maybe Americans should read more of Israeli papers to know the truth... Thanks Avi_J.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen
/spages/1035414.html; Reply to this comment


by trishab59-02 January 15, 2009 1:24 PM EST: Maybe Americans should read more of Israeli papers to know the truth... Thanks Avi_J.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen
/spages/1035414.html; Reply to this comment


by trishab59-02 January 15, 2009 1:24 PM EST: Maybe Americans should read more of Israeli papers to know the truth... Thanks Avi_J.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen
/spages/1035414.html; Reply to this comment


by trishab59-02 January 15, 2009 1:24 PM EST: Maybe Americans should read more of Israeli papers to know the truth... Thanks Avi_J.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen
/spages/1035414.html; Reply to this comment


by trishab59-02 January 15, 2009 1:24 PM EST: Maybe Americans should read more of Israeli papers to know the truth... Thanks Avi_J.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen
/spages/1035414.html; Reply to this comment