Israel Bombs Foreign Ministry in Gaza

Israeli aircraft have bombed the Palestinian foreign ministry in Gaza, causing widespread damage and injuring at least 10 people, witnesses say.

           
Ambulances and rescue services raced to the scene early on Thursday as a fire blazed in the building.

 
Those injured were mostly hit by flying glass while in neighbouring buildings, It was not known if anyone was in the ministry at the time.

 
Houses and cars in the area were badly damaged by the force of the blast and much of the foreign ministry building was destroyed, witnesses said.

 
"This is state terrorism against the Palestinian people," Taher al-Nunu, a Palestinian foreign ministry spokesman, said of the attack.

 
An Israeli military spokeswoman in Tel Aviv confirmed the air raid and said the ministry was "led by Hamas" and used by the governing Islamist group to further its activities. The Palestinian foreign minister is Mahmoud al-Zahar, a Hamas leader.