Israeli Tank Shell Reportedly Hits Gaza School, Killing 2

An Israeli tank shell hit a Palestinian elementary school today, killing two students and wounding several others, a Palestinian security commander said. The Israeli military said it was checking the report.

The incident took place at a U.N. elementary school in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip.

A Palestinian security commander, Col. Khaled Abu Ola, said an Israeli tank shell hit the school this morning, killing two students and wounding several others. The injured were taken to nearby Nasser Hospital in the town of Khan Yunis.

On Wednesday, Palestinians demanded that U.S. envoys heading to the Mideast next week force Israel to implement an agreed truce without delay.

Also Wednesday, Israeli forces entered a West Bank village and seized two suspected militants, a 24-year-old Palestinian policeman and his brother, a 19-year-old university student, Palestinian officials said. The younger brother was once held by Israel on suspicion of belonging to the militant group Hamas, the officials said.

The Israeli military said two Palestinians “suspected of hostile terrorist actions” were arrested.

Israeli forces held back from pulling out of the West Bank town of Jenin more than a month after moving into Palestinian territory, saying they had warning of militants there planning attacks in Israel.

Since Israeli forces moved into six towns last month, the United States has repeatedly called on Israel to pull out and keep its troops away from Palestinian areas.