Gaza hospital on fire after Israeli strike: witnesses

[Scurrilous]

"A wing of a hospital in Gaza City caught fire on Thursday after an Israeli strike, witnesses said.

It was not immediately clear whether there were any injuries, they said.

The strike occurred near the Al-Quds Hospital in the southwestern neighbourhood of Tal Al-Hawa, where hundreds of people had taken shelter from advancing Israeli tanks in the early morning hours."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gOwxv6cy9Ncigs1oUt81axKZXiDQ

[Scurrilous]

1. Palestinians: UN compound in Gaza shelled

Witnesses, UNRWA officials said Israeli shells struck world body's headquarters in Strip, wounding at least three people. Ban 'outraged'; IDF yet to confirm report

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3656716,00.html

<snip>

"Witnesses and UN officials said Israeli shells have struck the United Nations headquarters in the Gaza Strip Thursday.

The compound has been serving as a shelter for hundreds of people fleeing Israel's offensive in Gaza. UN spokesman Chris Gunness says at least three people were wounded.

The entire area is engulfed in smoke and it's not clear whether anyone is still inside the compound.

The compound includes the headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, other offices and a school. Gunness says large amounts of aid supplies, as well as fuel trucks, could soon be destroyed.

Guinness told Ynet that the group had received reports from eyewitness "with a military background" suggesting the building was hit by white phosphorus shells.

The IDF has not confirmed the report, which came just minutes ahead of Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's meeting with Ban Ki-moon. The UN secretary general is demanding an immediate end to the fighting in Gaza.

Ban said he has expressed "strong protest and outrage" to Israel over the shelling and demanded an investigation into the incident. He said Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has told him it was a "grave mistake."

[coruscate]

2. Another day, another set of war crimes

Israel's just putting itself further into the hole.

Great job, Olmert.

[Scurrilous]

3. Two injured as Israeli warplanes attack media compound in Gaza

<snip>

"A journalist and a cameraman working for Abu Dhabi TV were injured when Israeli shells hit the Ash-Shuruq Tower on Umar Al-Mukhtar Street in dowtown Gaza City on Thursday.

The building contains several news agencies and networks, including Reuters, NBC, and Al-Arabiya.

An Israeli airstrike caused a fire to break out in the building. Journalists have reportedly fled the compound fearing continued Israeli strikes.

The injured journalists were taken to Ash-Shifa Hospital. They were identified as Muhammad As-Susi, who was wounded in the head, and Ayman Ar-Rezi who was injured “all over his body. “

Reuters journalists working there at the time said an Israeli missile or shell appeared to have struck the southern side of the 13th floor of the Tower.

Reuters said it evacuated the bureau, though a live camera feed that has been providing images from Gaza throughout the war continued to function. Live television images from another site showed smoke pouring from the upper floors of the 16-story building."

http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&Do=&ID=34990

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Scurrilous]

5. Rights group: 40 medics in burning Gaza hospital

<snip>

"Some 40 medical personnel were 'trapped' inside a hospital in the Gaza Strip, after it was apparently hit by shells and set ablaze Wednesday, an Israeli medical group said.

The staff were at the al-Quds hospital in the Tel al-Hawa neighbourhood of Gaza City, where one wing was still on fire. Fire trucks were at the scene trying to extinguish the flames.

The Israeli Physicians for Human Rights, which spoke with the head of the hospital, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that efforts were also being made to 'evacuate the sick and wounded.'

The hospital also housed the Palestine Red Crescent Society."

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1453624.php/Rights_group_40_medics_in_burning_Gaza_hospital__Extra__

[Scurrilous]

6. France anger at Israeli strikes on UN, media buildings

<snip>

"France on Thursday strongly condemned Israel for shelling several hospitals, a UN compound and a building housing several international media groups in Gaza.

"We condemn in the strongest terms the bombings this morning by the Israeli army of several hospitals and a building housing international media in Gaza city," said foreign ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier.

"We condemn with equal strength the bombing that hit the headquarters of the UNRWA in Gaza, injuring three staff members," he added. The UNRWA is the UN's main agency for Palestinian refugees."

http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=mideast&item=090115120502.ym1oaxrh.php

[Christa]

7. Sickening, just sickening

They get away with this and the US stand by and do nothing??

I am ashamed.

[tekisui]

8. "There are 500 patients, nurses and paramedics in the hospital and until now we don't know what's th

GAZA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army has enlarged ground operations on Thursday into Gaza City as its air and ground military offensive goes on for the 20th successive day, residents in the city and medics said.

Residents of Gaza City said several Israeli army tanks and armored vehicles backed by warplanes carried out a larger incursion into the southern Gaza City neighborhood of Tal el-Hawa.

They said that during the incursion, the tanks shelled al-Quds Hospital, which belongs to the Palestinian Red Crescent, adding they saw flames of fire and black smokes coming out from inside the hospital.

"There are 500 patients, nurses and paramedics in the hospital and until now we don't know what's their fate," said Dr. Omer el-Azayza, director of al-Quds Hospital in southern Gaza City.

"It seems that the Israeli army had decided to target hospitals and journalists offices after it had targeted homes, mosques and cemeteries and killed hundreds of innocent children and women," said Walid Abu Jabal, a 35-year-old Gaza resident.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/15/content_10665226.htm

[wellst0nev0ter]

9. Ah Well, We All Know The Hospital Is A Secret Hamas Base

The IDF sez it so it MUST be true :eyes:

[Scurrilous]

10. Civilians sheltered at Gaza hospital before 'horror' attack

GRIPPING their wailing children, terrified Gaza civilians scuttled for any shelter they could find as Israeli tanks barrelled into the heart of a residential neighbourhood in Gaza City.

<snip>

"Loaded down with babies, toddlers and children, dozens of families arrived at the doors of the Al-Quds hospital shortly after dawn as dozens of tanks roared into the area, sparking furious battles with Palestinian fighters.

Inside the facility, the residents found space where they could. Mothers tried to console their crying children and to make them laugh.

"I brought the children to the hospital because they were scared at home, but here they are even more terrified," said Hossein, 40, who huddled in the pediatric ward with his wife and five children.

"The house next door was completely destroyed in the fighting so we had to get out of there. We can't take this any longer. Look at my children, they're trembling."

But as the frightened civilians took refuge in the facility, part of the hospital caught fire after an Israeli strike. The blaze was brought under control in the medical area but not in the administrative building.

The attack put about 100 patients and medical staff at risk, according to the international Red Cross, while a doctor inside said many of them were trapped.

"The Israelis are bombing and attacking all around the hospital. We can't get out. There's fire, and we're trapped inside. The water has been cut off," French doctor Regis Garrigue said."

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