A child receives a dose of the polio vaccine at a UN-run clinic in Deir al-Balah city, central Gaza Strip, on Oct. 14, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Three Palestinian children were wounded when an Israeli drone struck a medical facility during a polio vaccination campaign in Gaza City on Saturday, Palestinian medical sources said.

The children were taken to al-Ahli Arab hospital after the strike hit Sheikh Radwan Clinic in the northern part of the city, medical staff told Xinhua. The Israeli army has not commented on the incident yet.

The incident occurred as health workers launched an emergency polio vaccination drive for children under 10 in Gaza City. The campaign has already begun in central and southern Gaza but has been delayed in the north due to ongoing military operations.

Separately, senior Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq on Saturday dismissed recent proposals for a temporary pause in fighting, calling them "a mere smoke screen" that failed to address key demands including Israeli military withdrawal and the return of displaced Palestinians.

"We engage positively with any proposals ensuring the cessation of aggression and withdrawal of Israeli forces," al-Rishq said in a statement, while accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of using ceasefire talks as "cover" for continued military operations.

The comments follow a recent Qatari-American announcement about negotiations in Doha focusing on hostage release and potential ceasefire arrangements.

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