Hamas says ‘barbaric’ Israeli strike damaged children’s hospital

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories — Hamas on Saturday denounced as “barbaric” overnight strikes it said damaged a Gaza children’s hospital, while Israel’s army said it was responding to rocket fire from the enclave.

The Israeli forces said they struck three Hamas targets, including a rocket manufacturing site, underground infrastructure and a military post, after two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip.

But Gaza’s ruling Hamas in a statement said a “barbaric” Israeli strike had damaged a children’s hospital and a centre for people with special needs.

Medical sources in Gaza said the strikes “lightly wounded” two civilians, including a child.

Sirens had sounded on Friday night in the southern port city of Ashkelon and the area surrounding the Gaza Strip, according to an earlier army statement.

“Two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israeli territory,” the statement said, adding that they were intercepted by the Iron Dome Aerial Defence System.

There were no reports of damage as a result of the interceptions.

Israeli emergency medical services said several people were treated for shock.

The latest fire from the Palestinian enclave came over a month after one rocket was launched from the coastal strip into Israel.

Islamist group Hamas seized control of Gaza from rival Palestinian movement Fateh in 2007 in a near civil war.

Since then, Hamas has fought three devastating wars with Israel in the territory, where about 2 million Palestinians live.

Israel has since maintained a crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip to prevent Hamas from arming.