U.N. Blasts Israel For Aid Compound Attack

Israeli troops shelled the U.N. headquarters in Gaza after coming under fire from Palestinian militants, said Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Thursday's Israeli artillery attack set the compound on fire, destroyed tons of food and humanitarian supplies and forced hundreds of refugees to flee.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is in the region to end the devastating offensive against Gaza's Hamas rulers, expressed "outrage" and demanded a "full explanation."

Israel said it does not target U.N. buildings or personnel. But Israel maintains troops opened fire after militants inside the compound shot anti-tank weapons and machine guns. Throughout its 20-day offensive in Gaza, Israel has accused Hamas militants of hiding in civilian areas to stage attacks.

At a meeting with the U.N. chief, Olmert called the shelling a "sad incident" but said militants were responsible. U.N. official John Ging, who was in the compound at the time, called the Israeli account "nonsense."

A spokesman for the United Nations humanitarian relief agency in Gaza said the Israeli shells contained the controversial chemical white phosphorus.

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.

Even as a top Israeli envoy went to Egypt to discuss a cease-fire proposal, the military pushed farther into Gaza in an apparent effort to step up pressure on Hamas. Ground forces thrust deep into a crowded neighborhood for the first time, sending terrified residents fleeing for cover. Shells also struck a hospital, five high-rise apartment buildings and a building housing media outlets in Gaza City, injuring several journalists.

Bullets also entered another building housing The Associated Press offices, entering a room where two staffers were working but wounding no one. The Foreign Press Association, representing journalists covering Israel and the Palestinian territories, demanded a halt to attacks on press buildings.

The army had collected the locations of media organizations at the outset of fighting to avoid such attacks.

Meanwhile, Hamas officials are confirming the death of Interior Minister Said Siam in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.

Hamas television says that Siam was killed in a strike that flattened a home in Gaza City. A top aide, Siam's brother and his brother's family were also killed.

Siam is considered to be among Hamas' top five leaders in Gaza.

As interior minister in Hamas' government in Gaza, he oversaw thousands of security agents and was widely feared.

The Israeli army confirmed the airstrike.

Israel launched its war on Dec. 27 in an effort to stop militant rocket fire from Gaza that has terrorized hundreds of thousands of Israelis. Some 1,100 Palestinians have been killed, roughly half of them civilians, according to U.N. and Palestinian medical officials. Gaza health official Dr. Moaiya Hassanain said at least 50 people were killed throughout Gaza on Thursday.

Thirteen Israelis also have been killed since the campaign began. Israel says it will press ahead until Hamas halts the rocket fire and stops smuggling weapons into Gaza from neighboring Egypt.