GAZA: Israeli tank fire struck a home in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, killing four Palestinians, including three youths, and injuring three other people, hospital officials said.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment.
In recent days Israel has stepped up retaliatory strikes on Gaza following a barrage of rocket fire from the enclave, which is ruled by Hamas.
Palestinian medics said the dead youths were aged 12, 16 and 17. The 58-year-old owner of the house was also killed.
Locals said four Israeli tank shells struck the building east of Gaza City.
Israeli air strikes launched across Gaza on Monday wounded 19 people, four of them militants, after a large number of rockets and mortars were fired across the border area.
The military said a further four rockets had been fired at Israel from the enclave on Tuesday. No Israelis were reported as injured as a result of the attacks out of Gaza.
France’s foreign ministry earlier issued a statement expressing concern about the escalation in violence in Gaza, and urged both sides to show restraint.
