Gaza hospital hit as Israel steps up assault; no casualties reported

An Israeli air strike early on April 13 heavily damaged one of the few functioning hospitals in Gaza, with the Israeli military saying it had targeted a Hamas "command and control centre" operating within the facility.

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GAZA CITY - An Israeli air strike early on April 13 heavily damaged one of the few functioning hospitals in Gaza, with the Israeli military saying it had targeted a Hamas "command and control centre" operating within the facility.

Since the outbreak of war, tens of thousands of Gazans have sought refuge in hospitals, many of which have suffered severe damage in the ongoing hostilities.

The strike on Al-Ahli Hospital in northern Gaza — also known as the Baptist or Ahli Arab Hospital — caused no casualties, but came a day after Israeli forces seized a key corridor in the territory and signaled plans to expand their campaign.

It also came as aid agencies and the UN warned that medicines and related supplies were rapidly running out in Gaza as casualties surged.

"The bombing led to the destruction of the surgery building and the oxygen generation station for the intensive care units," Gaza's civil defense rescue agency said.

It came "minutes after the (Israeli) army's warning to evacuate," the agency added.

AFP photographs show massive slabs of concrete and twisted metal scattered across the site after the strike.

The blast left a gaping hole in one of the hospital's buildings, with iron doors torn from their hinges. An Iraqi broadcaster said one of its TV vans was also damaged.