Israel’s military was accused Wednesday of striking a school run by the United Nations located in the Gaza Strip, leading to the death of at least 15 Palestinians.
Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, Israel’s military spokesman, said he was investigating the claims, which were made by the Palestinian Health Ministry, The New York Times reported.
Witnesses, meanwhile, said two artillery shells hit the Abu Hussein school about 4:30 a.m. local time — one of which struck directly at a classroom. The school is located in Jabaliya, one of the most populated areas of Gaza.
The director of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, Robert Turner, put the number of rocket hits from Israel even higher.
“At least three explosive projectiles” hit before dawn, he said, The New York Times reported. “People were in this school because they’d been told by the IDF to leave where they came from. They were told to move to these areas.”
At least one U.N. security guard was killed in the strike, Mr. Turner said.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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