Israeli strikes hit Gaza hospitals and UN aid headquarters

In some of the most intense ground combat of the 20-day-old assault on Gaza, Israeli tanks powered into the southern suburb of Tel el Howa clashing with Palestinian militants firing rockets.

The tanks advanced under a barrage of artillery and mortar fire that struck the al Quds, al Fata and al Wafa hospitals.

There were unconfirmed reports that Shifa, Gaza City's biggest hospital, was on fire after being struck by Israeli shells.

Israel has repeatedly claimed Hamas commanders are hiding in Shifa although it has provided no evidence to support this.

A tower block housing various media groups including the Gaza offices of Reuters was shelled, injuring two employees of an Arabic television network.

The French government issued a forthright condemnation of Israel's actions.

"We condemn in the strongest terms the bombings this morning by the Israeli army of several hospitals and a building housing international media in Gaza city,'' Eric Chevallier, spokesman for the French foreign ministry in Paris, said.

"We condemn with equal strength the bombing that hit the headquarters of the UN in Gaza, injuring three staff members.

Mr Ban said Ehud Barak, the Israeli defence minister, had assured him the incident had been "a grave mistake" which was being taken "very seriously".

"He assured me that extra caution will be given to UN facilities and stuff and that this will not be repeated," he said.

There was no confirmation from Israel it accepted responsibility for the attack on the UN compound.

Witnesses said the compound was set alight when it was hit by three shells containing white phosphorus.

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