The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he said the army is still drafting the country's official response to the incident.

Palestinian medics said 34 people were killed in an Israeli strike outside a U.N. school in the northern Gaza town of Jebaliya. The United Nations confirmed 30 were killed and 55 injured.

The Israeli official said "hostile fire" was directed at the soldiers from within the school. He said soldiers returned fire and multiple explosions went off, presumably emanating from munitions stored there.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

UNITED NATIONS (AP)—A U.N. official says 30 people died and 55 injured when artillery shells landed at the perimeter of a U.N. school in the 11th day of the Israeli onslaught in Gaza.

John Ging, head of Gaza operations for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, said most of the casualties at the U.N. school in Jebaliya, where some 350 people had taken refuge, were outside the building. He did not say whether the artillery came from Israeli forces.

Palestinian medics say 34 people died in an Israeli strike. It was the second strike on a U.N. school within hours.
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