Israel: Shelling of U.N. complex 'a grave mistake'

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday that the shelling of a U.N. relief agency's compound in Gaza City was "a grave mistake," the U.N. chief said. "I conveyed my strong protest and outrage to the defense minister and the foreign minister and demanded a full explanation," Ban said at a news conference in Tel Aviv, Israel.
He added that Barak took the matter "very seriously."

Ban said he called Barak, before meeting with him later in the day, to ask him to explain the shelling of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency compound.

The UNRWA headquarters was hit repeatedly by shrapnel and artillery during clashes Thursday morning, UNRWA Director John Ging said. Three workers were hurt, and the compound's warehouse and workshop were burning out of control within an hour and a half, he said. Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said it was "not clear whose shells, whose fire hit the U.N. facility."

"It could have been ours , it could have been Hamas'," Regev said. "This is being investigated." The fire left black smoke hanging over Gaza City.

"It's a very big fire, and we're not able to get it under control at the moment," Ging said. With gunbattles going on around the facility, "the emergency services are not able to get to us."

He said staffers identified the source of the fires as white phosphorous shells, whose use is restricted under international law.

The U.S.-based group Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of using white phosphorous shells in Gaza during its campaign against Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that has ruled Gaza since 2007.

The Israel Defense Forces initially denied using the ordnance. But by Monday, Israeli officials said only that any shells fired in Gaza "are in accordance with international law."

The private relief agency CARE announced Thursday it was canceling its distribution of food and medical aid to the territory while the fighting continues. Read an aid worker's diary

The Foreign Press Association said international news agency offices in Gaza City were hit by Israeli fire Thursday and demanded Israel stop shooting at the building that houses them.

UNRWA spokesman Christopher Gunness urged both Israel and Hamas, which has been firing rockets into southern Israel, to heed the "conscience of the world" and comply with a U.N. resolution calling for a cease-fire.

But he added: "I'm standing looking over the town of Beit Hanoun, and with every dull thud and every plume of smoke that comes out of there, it's sad to say that the parties on the ground are not listening."

Ban's presence appeared to do little to advance diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, and Arab nations remain divided on their stances toward Hamas.

Israeli aircraft struck 70 targets in Gaza overnight, the Israel Defense Forces reported Thursday, while fighting on the ground left 11 Israeli troops wounded. The military said about 35 armed Palestinian fighters were wounded or killed in those clashes, mostly by airstrikes At least 10 rockets or mortar shells struck Israeli territory Thursday, the IDF reported. More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 5,000 wounded since the conflict began, Palestinian officials said Wednesday. Israel said 10 of its soldiers and three civilians have been killed and more than 100 soldiers have been wounded.

The Israeli military said it planned to let 170 trucks through the border Thursday to deliver food and medical supplies, and announced the appointment of an army officer, Brig. Gen. Shimi Daniel, to coordinate humanitarian efforts.

source from: CNN