Funerals held for victims of UN school attack

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 01-08-2009 09:28

Funerals have been held for the victims of an Israeli attack that hit a UN school in Gaza.

A UN spokesperson condemned the attack which killed dozens of people.

Funerals have been held for the victims of an Israeli attack that hit a UN school in Gaza.

Hundreds of Palestinians gathered at the funeral in Jebaliya to mourn their loved ones.

Tuesday's shelling left 46 civilians dead and 150 wounded and the UN school is no longer a safe refugee for Gaza residents.

Israel defended its attack, saying that Hamas militants were operating in the area at the time of the strike.

Maj. Avital Leivovich, Israel Military Spokesman, Israeli Military Spokesman, said, "We passed to the press yesterday two names of two militants, Hassan Abu Askar and Amad (Imad) Abu Askar, two major Hamas militants, that together with other Hamas operatives were in the area of the school, launching rockets towards IDF force.

UN officials denied there had been any militant activity at the school.

Christopher Gunness, Spokesman of UN Relief & Works Agency, said, "We have conducted an initial investigation, and as a result of that, we are 99.9 percent certain that there was no militant activity or militant activity in the school or in the school compound. If anyone has evidence to the contrary, can they please come forward and help us eliminate that 0.1 percent."

The UN agency says 1,300 people were taking shelter from the shelling at the school.

It has called for an investigation into the growing number of Palestinian civilian casualties. The UN says about 300 civilians have now been killed by Israeli attacks.