By RIA Novosti,
Gaza : At least five Palestinians, including four children and a militant, were killed on Monday as Israeli tanks shelled a residential area in the northern Gaza Strip, local health officials said.
The four children, aged between five and one, were found dead in the ruins of their home in the town of Beit Hanoun, their mother was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
The Israeli army said it had carried out a ground operation in Beit Hanoun, which is sometimes used by Palestinian militants for cross-border rocket attacks. An Israeli soldier was slightly injured during the operation.
Earlier in the day, Palestinians fired three rocket attacks on the western Negev, but no damage or casualties were reported.
On Monday the Israeli Defense Forces lifted its 10-day blockade of the Gaza Strip, introduced 19 days ago, as part of the Jewish holidays.