UN agency says Israeli troops forced Gazans into hot house

Occupied Jerusalem: A UN agency said on Friday that Israeli troops evacuated Palestinian civilians to a house in Gaza City, then shelled the building 24 hours later.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs dated the incident to January 4, a day after Israel began its ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

Based on eyewitness testimony, the account added details to an incident previously reported by The Associated Press and an Israeli human rights group.

The UN agency said 110 people were in the house and 30 people were killed, far higher figures than in other accounts.

It said a Red Cross medical team was blocked from reaching the area until three days later. Rescuers were allowed in on foot, without ambulances.