Strike on Gaza kills children, say doctors

Four Palestinian family members have died in Gaza, doctors say, in an apparent Israeli artillery strike.

22 March 2011, 12:00am

Locals said four Israeli tank shells hit a home east of Gaza City; doctors said three children were killed.

The Israeli military said in a statement: "Regrettably non-combatants were hurt, this is because Hamas attacks from civilian areas."

Palestinian militants on Saturday fired a barrage of rockets over the frontier, prompting Israeli retaliation.

The militants launched more mortars against Israeli troops on Tuesday, the Israeli military said.

The latest deaths came a day after Palestinian doctors said at least 17 people were injured in Israeli air strikes in Gaza.