A Palestinian civilian has been killed and over 40 injured in an Israeli missile attack that destroyed the deserted, Hamas-run interior ministry in Gaza City.

 

The building, destroyed on Friday, was situated in the heart of a residential neighborhood but had been vacant since it was severely damaged in a air raid two years ago.

A woman was killed and at least 46 other civilians were injured in the attack, hospital officials said.

 

An Israeli military spokeswoman said the attack, against what she called "a Hamas headquarters", was part of Israel's campaign against rocket fire coming from the Palestinian territory.

Al Jazeera's Jacky Rowland, speaking from Gaza, reported that the attack on the interior ministry was one of three simultaneous missile attacks on Gaza.

 

"We're now learning there were three air strikes," she said.

 

"It seems Israel is trying to target what it is identifying as some kind of security infrastructure of the Hama authorities. The irony is that in most cases, these are not buildings that are actually being used by Hamas forces."

 

The recent air attacks bring the number of Israeli air raids on Friday to four.

 

"It seems to the people of Gaza that Israel is carrying out more or less indiscriminate attacks from the air and from the ground," Rowland reported.

 

"The biggest air strike - the one against the interior ministry building - has, as far as we can tell, largely claimed civilian victims."

 

 

 

"This measure, which will remain in effect for several days, covers both commercial traffic and persons," an Israeli official said.

 

Shlomo Dror, a defence ministry spokesman, said the decision is meant to pressure the Hamas to halt rocket fire at southern Israel.

 

 

Israel kept all crossings into Gaza closed on Friday morning, meaning that about 20 trucks of food scheduled to pass during the day would not be allowed through, Dror said.

 

 

"This can only lead to the deterioration of an already dire situation," said Christopher Gunness, an UNRWA spokesman, said.

 

 

At the same, Israel is pushing ahead with its military offensive against fighters in both Gaza and the West Bank.

 

On Thursday, Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, said in a statement that his country was at "war" against fighters in the Gaza Strip.

 

The Israeli military has particularly intensified its operations in Gaza, with at least 32 people killed during the past week. In response, Hamas has begun firing rockets at Israel for the first time in months.

 

Some 150 rockets and mortars have struck since Tuesday, the Israeli army said.