Israel may file complaint over Hamas' use of schools
Olmert, Barak and Livni meet to discuss IDF strike near UNWRA school in Gaza, which left dozens of Palestinian civilians killed
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak met Tuesday evening to discuss an earlier incident in which dozens of Palestinians were killed following an Israel Defense Forces strike near a school belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) at the Jabalya refugee camp in Gaza.
The limited cabinet is examining the possibility of filing a complaint with the United Nations over the use of UNWRA schools made by Hamas gunmen in the Gaza Strip.
An inquiry into the incident revealed that the IDF soldiers acted according to procedures and fired back at gunmen firing mortar shells from the school. The investigation also revealed that Hamas launching cells were operating within the school. The shells landed outside the school yard.
IDF and intelligence sources said that Hamas was attempting to hide the circumstances of the incident. Members of the organization were also killed in the strike.
The army released an old video showing the terrorists firing mortar shells from the school yard, and the cabinet is considering using the video in a possible complaint filed with the UN.
The cabinet will meet again Wednesday to discuss the continuation of the military operation in the Strip.
Sources in the IDF said earlier that several Hamas gunmen were inside the UNWRA school, including Imad and Hassan Abu-Askar. The army also said that a rocket launching cell had been firing rockets at Israel from the school.
The UN's al-Fahoura school housed Palestinians forced to leave their homes which are located near the border fence for fear for their lives. The residents were living in the school's classrooms and corridors.
Earlier Tuesday, Palestinians reported that 13 people, including nine members of one family, were killed as a house in the Zeitoun neighborhood sustained a direct hit. Among the dead were six children aged one to 12.
Some 40 people were living in the four-story structure, and all gathered in the ground floor for fear of a shell hitting the upper floors. A missile fired by a warplane caused the building to collapse. Rescue teams searched for bodies and survivors under the rubble for hours. Palestinians reported that the rescue teams were shot at several times as they attempted to evacuate the injured.
