15 Die In Shelling Of U.N. Shelter In Gaza; Israel Says Warning Issued

[Purveyor]

A United Nations shelter in northern Gaza was shelled on Thursday, causing “multiple deaths and injuries,” according to a spokesman for the U.N. refugee agency.

At least 15 people were killed and scores hurt when a school compound in Beit Hanoun, designated as a haven for the displaced, was bombarded by Israeli forces amid heavy fighting with Palestinian militants, a Gaza health official said.

Chris Gunness, a spokesman for the U.N. Refugee and Works Agency, or UNRWA, tweeted that the precise coordinates of the shelter had been relayed to Israeli forces.
U.N. School in Gaza Hit by Israeli Strike
Israeli missile hits compound housing UN school in Gaza

Israel’s Defense Forces issued a statement Thursday saying that they had ordered the Red Cross to evacuate civilians from the shelter in Belt Hanoun late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.

According to the IDF, Hamas militants prevented civilians from evacuating and continued firing rockets from the area around the shelter.

more...

http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-gaza-ceasefire-remains-elusive-20140724-story.html

[4now]

1. Is it a war crime to bomb a UN shelter filled with civilians?

[Blecht]

6. It's not a war crime if the US or Israel does it

At least that's what the last 40 years tells us.

[Luminous Animal]

2. Richard Engel of NBC reports that the UN chief says that they received no warning.

via twitter: https://twitter.com/RichardEngel/status/492344456654249984

[4now]

3. Would the IDF lie about killing civilians?

[killbotfactory]

4. All armies lie about killing civilians. nt

[geek tragedy]

5. IDF = Hamas. nt

[laundry_queen]

7. On CBC here in Canada

They just had an interview with the director of UNRWA operations in Gaza and he said the school had been a designated emergency shelter and that the coordinates of the school had been given to Israeli authorities on 12 separate occasions, the most recent occasion was at 10:50 this morning. He said they were fully aware this school was a shelter.

ugh.

[snooper2]

8. Israel doesn't give a shit the fundies are in charge

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. Not surprisingly Israel, like the USA, is not a signatory of the ICC.