Gaza truce efforts gather pace despite continuing attacks

Gaza City : In continuing offensive against Hamas in Gaza, an Israeli strike on a UN-run school north of the territory killed at least two people on Saturday, UN officials and medics said.

Witnesses earlier said the Israeli shelling killed as many as six people, including four who were killed after other shells struck nearby.

UN spokesman Chris Gunness said the school was crowded with 1,600 people who had sought shelter from Israel's offensive in Gaza.

Gunness said the compound in Beit Lahiya took several direct hits despite Israel having the coordinates of the school and knowing that it was being used as a shelter.

He called for an investigation into possible war crimes, and said that anyone who is guilty should be brought to justice.

Palestinian health officials said at least 25 other people were wounded in the strike, which also set a part of the building on fire.

Fierce clashes also erupted around the school as Israeli tanks exchanged fire with Palestinian fighters, witnesses said.

The clashes came as the Israeli Security Cabinet prepared to vote on a ceasefire plan and as Hamas leaders prepared for a fresh round of truce talks in Cairo.

On Friday, Hamas's exiled leader Khalid Mesha'al told an Arab meeting in Doha that it would not accept any ceasefire that did not provide for a full Israeli pullout and the opening of Gaza's borders, including the Rafah crossing with Egypt.

"I assure you: despite all the destruction in Gaza, we will not accept Israel's conditions for a ceasefire," he told a meeting of Arab and other leaders.

The summit hosted by Qatar to address the Gaza war was not attended by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, or the Palestinian National Authority, who will attend a summit of Arab leaders in Kuwait on Monday.

Weeks of fighting in Gaza has left more than 1,140 people killed and 5,100 others wounded.