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Al Jazeera English - Middle East - Israeli forces pound Gaza City

Al Jazeera English - Middle East - Israeli forces pound Gaza City

Israeli ground forces are continuing to pound Gaza City, shelling a UN building and a hospital while pushing deeper into densely-populated neighbourhoods.

Thousands of fear-stricken Gazans fled the advancing Israeli trooops on Thursday, but no place seemed safe in the territory under relentless Israeli attack.

Officials said that a building of the UN relief agency in Gaza had been hit and set ablaze.

"They are phosphorus fires so they are extremely difficult to put out because if you put water on it, it will just generate toxic fumes and do nothing to stop the burning," John Ging, director of UN relief operations, said.

"This is going to burn down the entire warehouse ... where thousands and thousands of tonnes of food, medical supplies and other emergency assistance is there."

Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, said he was "outraged" by the attack on the UN compound and demanded an explanation as he met Israeli officials in Tel Aviv.

Intense shelling

The hospital in Tal al-Hawa had about 500 people inside when it came under attack. Many had taken shelter in the hospital, hoping to escape the fighting.

"The last hit was on the Red Crescent's operations building and destroyed the pharmacy. There's a hole in the roof and a fire is still burning," Sharon Locke, a hospital volunteer, told Al Jazeera.

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