Peace and Justice Post

The United Nations has cited witnesses accusing Israeli troops of evacuating scores of Palestinians – including children – into a house in Gaza on Sunday and then shelling the property 24 hours later, killing approximately 30 people.

Just hours after calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the UN cited witnesses of the alleged attack in the house in Zeitun, an eastern Gaza city neighbourhood.

The UN said that “according to several testimonies, on January 4, Israeli foot soldiers evacuated approximately 110 Palestinians into a single-residence house in Zeitun (half of whom were children) warning them to stay indoors. 24 hours later, Israeli forces shelled the home repeatedly, killing approximately 30”.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) described it as “one of the gravest incidents since the beginning of operations” by Israeli forces in Gaza on December 27. An Israeli military spokesman said the allegation was being investigated, as were other claims that civilians were fired upon and that troops failed to help wounded civilians.

In New York overnight, the 15-member UN Security Council voted for an immediate and durable ceasefire between Hamas militants and Israeli forces in Gaza. The ceasefire resolution, drafted by Britain, was adopted 14-0 by the 15-member council after the US, Israel’s main ally, abstained from voting.