Palestinian security officials said an Israeli tank shell killed five children traveling in a car near the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah on Thursday, but the IDF denied any army fire in the area. Hospital workers said the children were all siblings, under 16, from the Abu Matrok family. The driver of the car was also killed the security officials said.
Earlier Thursday, the IDF took control of a few hills and open areas near Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza in an attempt to prevent Kassam rocket attacks on Israel. According to Israel Radio, a small force of tanks and other armored vehicles has been operating for the last few days a few hundred meters into Gaza on the Palestinian side of the security fence. |