Hamas fires on Israelis from UN building, hospital

Jerusalem Post:

Gunshots and an anti-tank missile were fired at IDF troops near the UN compound that was attacked by the IDF on Thursday, senior defense official told The Jerusalem Post.

Accordng to the officials, the IDF responded by firing artillery shells at the location of the gunmen and that the shells caused damage to the UN installations. At least three people were wounded and the building was set on fire.

The IDF's Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration coordinated the arrival of five fire trucks to the compound to help put out the flames.

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Palestinians reported that an IDF tank shell also struck one of the wings of a Gaza hospital midday Thursday. Witnesses said part of the structure was on fire. The army said that the building was also being used by Hamas men who were firing on IDF troops.

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Haaretz describes the attacks:

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Olmert echoed remarks by a senior Israel Defense Forces officer earlier Thursday, who said troops opened fire after militants inside the compound shot anti-tank weapons and machine guns. He said soldiers used 155-millimeter artillery shells. Throughout its 20-day offensive in Gaza, Israel has accused Hamas militants of hiding in civilian areas to stage attacks.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency said its compound, where up to 700 Palestinians were being sheltered, was hit twice by fire and three staff members were wounded.

Another explosion blasted a tower block that houses the offices of Reuters and several other media organizations, wounding a journalist for the Abu Dhabi television channel.

Also Thursday, the Al-Quds hospital in Gaza City was engulfed in flames after it was caught in the fighting between IDF troops and Hamas.

At least 15 Palestinians were killed in the fighting. An IDF spokesperson said that five militants, some of whom were bodyguards for senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar, were killed in Israel Air Force strikes on Thursday.

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I think this fighting reflects the desperation of the Hamas victim strategy in using hospitals and UN facilities as a base for attacking the Israeli soldiers. The UN chief seems to have been taken in by the Hamas war crimes and blamed the Israels for defending themselves.

The Israelis need to get on top of these victim strategies and media plays more quickly. Troops taking fire from these facilities need to let the commanders know the situation as soon as possible in order to counter the Hamas media operations. The Israelis also need to contact the terrorist friendly media such as the BBC and set them straight on the Hamas attack/war crimes.

This Reuters video shows smoke from the compound that is inconsistent with white phosphorous as charged by the UN. Note the black smoke. White phosphorous puts out, would you beleive, white smoke.