UNRWA Admits: IDF Didn't Hit School

Arutz 7 ^ | 1-31-09 | Maayana Miskin

[Nachum]

(IsraelNN.com) During the Cast Lead operation in Gaza, IDF tank fire near a United Nations school in Gaza was blamed for the deaths of dozens of civilians who had taken refuge in the building. The incident became one of the most highly publicized attacks in the war, and led to heavy international criticism. However, recent reports suggest that the incident was not accurately portrayed by senior U.N. Officials.

John Ging, the director of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza, spoke to the Toronto Globe and Mail last week and agreed that no shell had actually struck the school building. Ging said he had never claimed that the school itself was hit, and he blamed Israel for confusion over where the strike took place.

Shortly after the alleged attack, Ging harshly criticized Israel for firing near the school, saying he had given the exact coordinates of the compound to the IDF and suggesting they had failed to avoid hitting the building.

While admitting that Israeli fire had not hit the school compound, Ging insisted it made little difference. “Forty-one innocent people were killed in the street... The State of Israel still has to answer for that,” he said.

Many media outlets reported that the strike had taken place near the school, but several reported that the building itself was hit. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs may have added to the confusion by releasing a report stating that Israeli fire “directly hit two UNRWA schools.”

Almost all reports said that the victims were primarily civilians who had fled to the school for shelter – a version of events cast into suspicion by the Globe and Mail report.

A teacher who was in the school at the time of the shelling reported that several people within the compound were injured, but that none were killed. Those killed were all outside in the street as the shells were fired, he said. Only three of those killed were students at the school, he added.

The teacher did not give his name, explaining that U.N .officials had told staff not to talk to the media.

The IDF responded to criticism over the attack by explaining that soldiers were simply responding to terrorist fire and did not mean to hit a civilian area.

[gwilhelm56]

Why does this NOT SURPRISE ME!!!

we’ll never see this in the US Press/TV/Media

[SouthTexas]

bump

[Lorianne]

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs may have added to the confusion by releasing a report stating that Israeli fire “directly hit two UNRWA schools.”

May have? may have? It directely CAUSED the 'confusion'. UFB

[SkipW]

There is apparently nothing that can be done to show the American people just how contemptible the United Nations really is. Not only do they despise Israel. but the United States as well. That they are based inside our borders is a travesty.

The political left all over the world wish to see the U.N. as the world governing body. Clueless Americans, brainwashed and ignorant following the “educational” experience gained in public schools, and then universities, seem ready for the “change”.

The Obama presidency will make or break the transition to U.N. world domination. The ignorant Americans who voted for this traitor will pay a price, government handouts aside. They don’t know what real poverty is, but they soon will. Obama will see to that.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you'd like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

[mvpel]

However, recent reports suggest that the incident was not accurately portrayed by senior U.N. Officials.

[dervish]

Jenin redux. Where was the UN on all the missiles that hit near or on Israeli schools?

[monkeyshine]

He blames Israel for not having an explanation? How about the Hamas rockets that were near the location, in process of being fired at Israel. It wouldn’t be the first time that Hamas weapons exploded on the ground killing dozens of people.

Bottom line: Israel did not bomb the school, but the school went kaboom anyway. Obvious answer: Hamas blew up the school, either intentionally or by work accident.

[agrace]

However, recent reports suggest that the incident was not accurately portrayed by senior U.N. Officials.

Wait, you mean organizations that allow their ambulances to be used for terrorist transport, refuse to turn over video of Hezbollah kidnapping IDF soldiers, and are at least complicit and at most active participants in Hamas/Hezbollah propaganda can't be trusted?