GAZA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua)-- The United Nations headquarters in the Gaza Strip was hit by Israeli fire on Thursday, said local witnesses and U.N. officials.

The witness said the building, which is located in Gaza City, was hit by phosphorus bomb, there are injuries reported in the attack.

The witness also said that the building for the Palestinian Red Crescent, located in the Tal al-Hawwa neighborhood was also hit a short.

One of the hospitals in the Tal al-Hawwa near the Palestinian Red Crescent building, Al-Quds hospital, was affected by the shelling, they said, adding that there are around 200 people inside the hospital.

At least three people were wounded during the attack on the UN compound, an UN official confirmed.

The attack came as UN chief Ban Ki-moon was in Israel trying to promote a cease-fire.

Ban reportedly said he has expressed "strong protest and outrage" to Israel over the shelling of the UN compound in Gaza.

Previously, witness in Gaza City said the Israeli army is shelling the Ramal neighborhood in the heart of the city, with panic residents trying to flee in the street.

One of the resident in Ramal neighborhood said that the Israeli army is shelling the city center, while helpless local Palestinians are running in the street try to find shelter.

The resident said she can hear people in the street are shouting, "Go to the Shelouk tower" referring a 15-floor building located in the city center, which hosts different local media offices.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Press Association (FPA) in Israel said in an urgent statement that heavy firepower currently being employed by Israeli forces against the building in Gaza City that houses the Reuters news agency and other international media outlets.

Initial reports are that the attacks have caused injury and damage, said the statement, adding that bullets shot by the Israeli army have entered the windows of the offices of the Associated Press in a different part of the city today.

The FPA call on the military to halt this fire immediately, adding that these are buildings housing journalists working for international news agencies and must not be targeted.

At least 30 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were killed on Thursday until morning hours, as Israeli ground forces pushed deeper into densely populated areas of Gaza City, medical sources and witnesses said.

The overall Palestinian death toll in the massive Israeli military offensive "cast lead" has reached about 1060, according to the sources.

Since midnight till now, at least 30 tanks entered densely populated neighborhood of Tal al-Hawwa in southern Gaza City, shelling houses and exchanging heavy fire with Palestinian militants, killing at least five militants and injured dozens, said witnesses.

According to the witnesses, Al-Quds hospital, one of the hospitals located in Tal al-Hawwa, was damaged. Several other high-rises were also attacked by Israeli shelling. Black and white smoke can be seen rising from all over the area.

The Israeli ground forces has now taken control of the Tal al- Hawwa neighborhood, said the witnesses, estimating that the army has seized around 15 percent of the area of the Gaza City.

Thousands of the residents of Tal al-Hawwa fled their homes in pajamas, some wheeling elderly parents in wheelchairs. Ambulance and paramedics were unable to enter this area due to the fierce confrontation.

Residents in the Gaza City said that huge black and white smoke can be seen from the whole city, adding that the Israeli tanks were just two kilometers away from Ramal neighborhood in the downtown city.

The Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip that has been going on for 20 days, Israeli warplanes and ground troops struck several targets into the blockaded enclave.
关键字:英语国际新闻
生词表: