Physical evidence and interviews with several eyewitnesses, including a teacher who was in the schoolyard at the time of the shelling, make it clear: The 43 people who died in the incident were all outside, on the street, where all three mortar shells landed.

Hazem Balousha, who runs an auto-body shop across the road from the UNRWA school, was down the street, just out of range of the shrapnel, when the three shells hit. He showed a reporter where they landed: one to the right of his shop, one to the left, and one right in front.

"There were only three," he said. "They were all out here on the road."

John Ging, UNRWA's operations director in Gaza, acknowledged in an interview this week that all three Israeli mortar shells landed outside the school and that "no one was killed in the school."

The army fired three mortar shells, two of which hit the target and one missed by about 30 meters, causing the casualties at the school, whose number the IDF believes was inflated by Hamas.

"We are still sticking by our official position that according to our initial inquiry, the whole thing started when terrorists fired mortar shells from the school compound [at soldiers]," Capt. Ishai David told The Jerusalem Post.

"The IDF returned fire to the source, and the unfortunate result was the death of innocent civilians," David said. He added that two terrorists, who were part of a Kassam squad, were also killed in the incident.

UNRWA has insisted that there were no terrorists in the school compound

"I know no one was killed in the school," Mr. Ging said. "But 41 innocent people were killed in the street outside the school. Many of those people had taken refuge in the school and wandered out onto the street.

GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli shelling killed more than 40 Palestinians on Tuesday at a U.N. school where civilians had taken shelter, .....
....People cut down by shrapnel lay in pools of blood in the street. Witnesses said two shells exploded outside the school, killing at least 42 civilians and wounding dozens among people who had taken refuge there and residents of nearby buildings. www.reuters.com...

The site of an IAF strike near a UN school which killed dozens of Palestinians, Jabalya, northern Gaza Strip, two weeks ago.

Originally posted by Obliterated
The U.N-run school did get hit. I think 4 people died in the school.

www.reuters.com...

The truth is, the U.N school was hit.

Witnesses said two shells exploded outside the school

Clarification: While correctly reported on 6 January that Israeli shells landed outside an UNRWA school in Jabalia, resulting in an initial estimate of 30 fatalities, the Situation Report of 7 January referred to 'the shelling of the UNRWA school in Jabalia.' The Humanitarian Coordinator would like to clarify that the shelling, and all of the fatalities, took place outside rather than inside the school.
un.org

Over 40 Palestinians were killed and over 50 injured following shelling of an UNRWA school in Jebalya Camp on Tuesday afternoon.

un.org

Originally posted by deccal
reply to post by dooper

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As I know, conflict is a two sided, long running issue. I understand this word like this. I may be wrong, I am not native English speaker.

Originally posted by slicobacon
reply to post by Harlequin

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Your article justifies them shooting at the school if that is in fact is what happened. You can't shoot at your enemy, then hide behind your children as shields and not expect any collateral damage.

Can you name ONE SINGLE COUNTRY who would not have returned fire in the same situation?

Originally posted by BlueRaja

Originally posted by slicobacon
reply to post by Harlequin

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Your article justifies them shooting at the school if that is in fact is what happened. You can't shoot at your enemy, then hide behind your children as shields and not expect any collateral damage.

Can you name ONE SINGLE COUNTRY who would not have returned fire in the same situation?

Not to mention that under the Laws of War, any site that is used unlawfully(i.e. schools, hospitals, etc...) for military purposes, loses its protected status, and becomes a legitimate military target.

Originally posted by dbates
reply to post by deccal

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My motivation? I just get tired of seeing facts stretched or twisted to meet an agenda. Also, I love pointing out how pathetic the U.N. is at anything. It's an irrelevant incompetent organization.