GAZA, Jan 18: Israel bombed the Hamas-run interior ministry in Gaza and closed border crossings with the strip on Friday.

The four-storey ministry complex in Gaza City was empty at the time but one woman was killed and at least 30 others nearby were wounded in the air strike, medical officials said.A second air strike minutes later damaged Hamas naval headquarters in the central Gaza Strip.

An Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed the air strikes, calling the targets “Hamas terrorist” positions. “This is part of our response to Qassam (rocket) fire against Israel,” she said.

Earlier on Friday, the Israeli defence ministry closed all border crossings with Gaza and prevented the delivery of a UN aid shipment.

Only “humanitarian cases” given Defence Minister Ehud Barak’s personal approval would be allowed through, the ministry said.

“If milk is low in Gaza, the minister will be asked to approve a milk shipment, and it will enter,” a spokesman said.

“Gaza is completely shut down. This will only add to an already dire situation,” said Christopher Gunness, spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), whose aid shipment was blocked.

In the West Bank city of Nablus, Israeli troops killed a militant linked to Fatah movement.

—Reuters