Gaza toll 'unbearable', says UN

Dubai: United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon led international protests against Israeli atrocities, describing the Palestinian death toll as "unbearable" as Israeli air strikes set hospitals, media and UN buildings ablaze.

"I have conveyed my strong protest and outrage and demanded a full explanation from the defence minister and foreign minister," Ban told reporters in Tel Aviv after the strike on a UN compound in Gaza.

The UN suspended its operations in Gaza after Israeli shells smashed into its compound, setting fire to warehouses holding badly needed aid.

Other strikes, described as the fiercest since the start of the war three weeks ago, set a hospital wing on fire and wounded two cameramen in a building housing international and Arab media outlets, including Abu Dhabi TV.

"The number of casualties has reached an unbearable point," said Ban.

Since Israel launched its war on Gaza on December 27, at least 1,070 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 355 children, 100 women, 117 elderly men and 12 medics, say Gaza medics. Another 5,000 people have been wounded.

France also denounced the latest attacks. "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," said French Foreign Ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier.

In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed shock at the humanitarian situation in Gaza. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also condemned the violence. "Today's attack on the UN headquarters in Gaza is indefensible," he said.

In a statement issued in the UAE, Abu Dhabi TV condemned the Israeli bombing of its media office in Gaza City centre. The statement said Bureau Chief Ayman Al Razi and cameraman Mohammad Al Sousi were wounded as they were filming the Israeli bombardment of Tal Al Hawa residential area from the top of the 14-storey building.

Hamas leader killed

Hamas officials confirmed the death of Interior Minister Said Siam in an Israeli airstrike. Siam was killed in a strike that flattened a home in Gaza City. A top aide, Siam's brother and his brother's family were also killed.

Meanwhile, about 100 patients and medical staff were put at risk when Al Quds hospital in Gaza City suffered a "direct hit" in an Israeli air strike, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said. The second floor caught fire but the blaze was put out by fire engines that rushed to the scene escorted by the Red Cross, the agency said in a statement.