'Un-Islamic' summer camp for kids hit by armed men

ARMED assailants in black masks burned and vandalised a UN summer camp site yesterday and left three bullets next to written death threats against UN officials – the latest escalation of tensions between Islamic extremists and UN representatives in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack on the UN camp site on the Gaza shore, near Gaza City.

However, Islamic extremists, including Hamas hard-liners, have repeatedly railed against the UN as being a bridgehead for the West and for corrupting Gaza's youth by teaching "un- Islamic" subjects in schools and summer camps.

The UN summer programme offers sports, crafts and other activities to some 250,000 Gaza children and teenagers. Hamas, which seized Gaza by force three years ago, has set up rival camps with a heavy emphasis on Islamic teachings.

About 30 assailants in black uniforms and masks arrived at the camp site in jeeps at about 2:30am, said the night watchman, Ibrahim Alawi.

The guard said the vandals then tied his hands, slashed or burned eight tents and set fire to 30 large plastic water tanks and other facilities.

A UN spokesman said the damage would be repaired and all 143 camps would open on 12 June, as scheduled.

The Hamas government denounced the attack.