SDEROT, Israel, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Two Israelis, one an eight-year-old boy, were seriously wounded by Palestinian rockets fired into southern Israel on Saturday, medical workers and police said.

Medical workers said the two were brothers who were injured by a rocket that landed in the centre of the Israeli town of Sderot, located about 5 km from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

"The child was walking in the street when the rocket fell," said police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld. Hamas Islamists, who seized the Gaza Strip in June, claimed responsibility for the rocket fire.

Gaza militants frequently fire short-range rockets and mortars at towns in southern Israel. While few cause damage or injury, the rockets spark widespread panic among residents. Nine rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza on Saturday, an Israeli army spokeswoman said.

"Israel will take the necessary steps to protect its citizens and prevent these lethal rockets attacks." said Israeli government spokesman David Baker.

Israel has stepped up sanctions and military action in the Gaza Strip in an effort to stop the rocket fire.

Human rights goups have criticised the Israeli sanctions on the coastal strip as "collective punishment". (Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza; Editing by Diana Abdallah)

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