Five Gazans, including children, killed by Israeli fire

GAZA CITY: Five Palestinians, at least two of them minors, were killed on Tuesday when an Israeli shell slammed into a house in Gaza City, an emergency services spokesman said.

"At least five people died when Israel opened fire on young people who were playing football in Shejaiya" near the Israeli border, Adham Abu Selmiya said, referring to the eastern Gaza neighbourhood.

Initial reports said the victims were aged 11, 16, 20 and 50, with the age of the fifth unclear.

Another 10 people were wounded in the attack, with pictures from Gaza City's Shifa hospital showing at three small children and a teenager covered in blood.

The army confirmed it had fired mortar rounds towards the eastern outskirts of Gaza City shortly after four Qassam rockets hit Israel, and expressed "regret" over reports that civilians had been hurt.