Israeli missile near Palestinian PM's house

An Israeli aircraft fired a missile tonight that exploded close to the house of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in the Shati refugee camp next to Gaza City, Palestinian security officials said.

They said the missile hit a tin shack where Haniyeh’s guards sleep, but it was empty and no one was hurt.

The military said it hit a building used by Hamas in the camp, and the location of Haniyeh’s house was incidental.

Haniyeh, wearing a tracksuit and trainers, inspected the site, but guards pulled him away because Israeli planes were still in the air.

Israeli officials, including Defence Minister Amir Peretz, said Israel would not differentiate between Hamas militants and political leaders, but Israel has not targeted a political figure on an airstrike during the current campaign.