Israeli military says it intercepted missile fired from Yemen

Israel’s military said it intercepted a missile fired towards the country by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, setting off sirens late on Monday in central Israel including Tel Aviv.

There were no reports of injuries from Magen David Adom, Israel’s rescue service.

The Houthis have been firing drones and missiles at Israel as well as attacking shipping in the Red Sea corridor — attacks they say will not stop until Israel agrees to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has carried out two waves of intense strikes in recent weeks in Yemen in response to the missile attacks.

The latest launch raises the likelihood of further Israeli retaliation.

At a UN Security Council meeting on Monday, Israeli UN ambassador Danny Danon vowed his country will respond decisively to Houthi attacks.

In Gaza, wounded Palestinians whom Israeli soldiers expelled from a northern Gaza hospital over the weekend described harrowing conditions where they were forced to strip down to their underwear in cold winter weather for hours.

“They surrounded the hospital at 4am and burned all the buildings around the hospital,” said Wissam Warsh, a 45-year-old father of five who spent almost a week at Kamal Adwan Hospital receiving treatment.

He said soldiers made the hospital director, Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, bring all the patients outside before detaining him.

“They told him over the loudspeaker that he had 10 minutes to evacuate them, and they began firing shells around the hospital as a pressure tactic,” Mr Warsh said.

He and other patients were recuperating at Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, where he spoke to The Associated Press from a hospital bed on Sunday.

Israel’s military says its troops entered the hospital because Hamas militants were using it as a base, and said more than 240 militants were detained, including Mr Abu Safiya. Hospital officials have denied those claims.

Other patients said the Israeli army refused to provide them with food or water.

Staff at Kamal Adwan Hospital say it has been hit multiple times over the past three months as Israeli forces wage an offensive against Hamas fighters, who the army says have regrouped in northern Gaza.

Israel has virtually sealed off the areas of Jabaliya, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya from food or medical aid.