Israeli airstrike in Gaza

Last Modified: 18 Jan 2008
By: Jonathan Miller

Israel has destroyed the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza in an air strike.

The Interior Ministry building in Gaza City was empty at the time of the Israeli airstrike today.

But Palestinian officials said a woman was killed and scores injured in the explosion.

It was the first Israeli strike against a government building since Hamas seized control of Gaza in June.

More than 30 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza this week, with Israel insisting that it's targeting militants who've been firing rockets into its territory.

It marks an intensification of the conflict.

Scores injured today, but most were women and children. The Hamas-allied Popular Resistance Committees have vowed: "sooner or later, to avenge every drop of blood shed."

The Israeli Prime Minister said: "The recent days have been difficult. I do not want to go into details at the moment about what we are doing regarding the Gaza Strip but, as you understand, we are taking action."

The action's not just military. Today Israel closed the border, barring 20 food trucks from entering Gaza. A UN spokesman said "Gaza's been completely locked down, making an already dire situation worse."

"This can only lead," he said, "to the further radicalisaton of a depressed and demoralised people."