UN: No Militants in Shelled School

Mortar may have been fired from nearby grove
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 7, 2009 10:06 AM CST
UN: No Militants in Shelled School
Palestinians pray over the bodies of people killed near a United Nations school yesterday, during their funeral in the Jebaliya refugee camp today.   (AP Photo)

The UN says it found no evidence to support claims there were militants inside the UN-run school Israeli forces fired on yesterday in Gaza, killing 40 civilians and injuring 55 more, Time reports. Israeli Defense Forces “returned fire,” a spokesman said, after militants fired mortars from inside the girls’ elementary school, in which some 400 people from the nearby refugee camp had taken shelter.

But after investigating, “we’re 99% sure that no militants were at the school,” a UN spokesman countered. Some refugees say they saw militants firing mortars nearby and running away; one Gaza resident said a nearby citrus grove might’ve provided cover. But Israel insists the mortars came from inside the crowded schoolyard, and that Hamas was using the civilians as shields. (More Hamas stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X