The rocket attack by Hamas in the city of Ashkelon, Israel, hit the Regina Hotel, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip at the southern Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon shortly after it issued an ultimatum to its residents to leave the city by 5pm.

Italian radio, RTL reported plumes of smoke rising from the hotel visible from the harbor.

Hamas had earlier sent an ultimatum to evacuate Ashkelon ahead of the attack, in response to Israel’s attacks on Gaza, and the attack began immediately after the ultimatum expired.