RAMALLAH, Saturday, December 26, 2020 (WAFA) - Minister of Health Mai Kaileh denounced the Israeli shelling of a hospital for children in Gaza, which caused severe damages and spread fear and panic among children and their companions.

Kileh said in a statement that the Israeli airstrikes threatened the lives of sick children and their companions as well as the medical staff, slamming the airstrikes on the hospital as a crime and a breach of Geneva Conventions, international law, and international humanitarian law. 

She expressed concern about the fear and emotional trauma children experienced during the airstrikes, which she worried can result in severe psychological effects.

Israeli warplanes at dawn today fired five missiles at locations east of the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City, injuring the child and youth from shrapnel and broken glass who were reported to be in light condition after they were brought to Shifa hospital in Gaza City, and causing heavy damage to property, including Mohammad Durra Pediatrics Hospital and a center for the handicapped, as well as several homes.

Warplanes and artillery attacked as well several other locations in the center and south of the Gaza Strip, causing damage but no injuries, said WAFA correspondent.

Israel claimed the attacks came after two missiles were fired from Gaza and fell in open areas in southern Israel without causing any damage or injury.

T.R.