NEW YORK CITY, United States – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon ordered an investigation into reports of rocket firing from a UN school in Gaza.  On October 29, an Israeli aircraft filmed militants firing mortars from a school in Beit Hanoun run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).  The video shows militants entering the school grounds and firing several rockets.  During the time of the incident, the school was empty; its teachers and students were evacuated prior to the incident due to an Israeli incursion in the area.

The spokeswoman for the secretary general, Marie Okabe, said that “the secretary-general condemns this abuse of UN facilities, which is a serious violation of the UN’s privileges and immunities.” Also, that “he calls on all involved in this conflict to avoid actions that endanger the lives of civilians, especially children, and that put at risk UNRWA’s ability to carry out its humanitarian mission.”

For more information, please see:

BBC – Mortars fired from UN Gaza school – 9 November 2007

International Herald Tribune – UN condemns use of Gaza school by Palestinian militants – 9 November 2007

AHN – Palestinian rocket attack launched from UN-run school in Gaza – 8 November 2007

Reuters – UN’s Ban orders probe of shooting for Gaza school – 8 November 2007