RePortersNoteBook.com: Israel "will try to kill fewer civilians" in future wars

Israeli shelling kills Gaza militant, wounds 7

Palestinians carry the body of Islamic Jihad militant Mohammed Al-Kafarna during his funeral in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday. One militant was killed and several other Palestinians were wounded Wednesday in Gaza, in the northern border town of Beit Hanoun. Israeli military spokesman said soldiers fired at suspected militants approaching the border fence with Israel. (AP)

By REUTERS

Published: Jul 21, 2010 22:15 Updated: Jul 21, 2010 22:51

GAZA: Israeli shellfire killed a Palestinian man and wounded seven people, including a 10-year-old girl, in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, Palestinian medical workers and an official with a resistance group said.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said soldiers opened fire on militants suspected of preparing to fire a rocket at them. A security source said the troops fired a tank shell.

Officials with a militant group active in Gaza said the dead man was one of their members. Medical officials said one of those wounded in the attack was a 10-year-old girl. No other details were immediately released.

Cross-border violence has abated on the Israel-Gaza frontier since a major Israeli offensive in early 2009, but Israel has staged periodic assaults which it said were in response to rocket and mortar fire by militants in the coastal territory.

A week ago Israeli shellfire killed a Palestinian woman in Gaza. Israel said it had opened fire on militants suspected of preparing to mount an attack.

Israel promised the United Nations this week to try and avoid civilian casualties in future wars.