Gaza siblings killed in Israeli air strike

GAZA — A Palestinian boy and his sister were killed in Hamas-controlled Gaza on Saturday when they were hit by fragments from a missile fired by an Israeli aircraft, medical officials said.

The incident took place hours after fighters launched rockets into Israel.

An Israeli military statement said aircraft had targeted four training camps belonging to Hamas after four missiles landed in open areas in southern Israel on Friday night. No casualties were reported from the rocket strikes.

Residents of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip said Yassin Abu Khoussa, 10, died after debris from the explosion hit his home, which is situated next to a training camp for fighters.

His six-year-old sister, Israa, who was seriously wounded, later died in hospital, Gaza health ministry spokesman, Ashraf Al Qidra said.

The fatalities from air strikes in Gaza were the first since last October. The Israeli army said that since the beginning of the year and including Friday's salvo, seven rockets have been fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel.

Israeli military spokesman Lieutant-Colonel Peter Lerner said the rocket strike was an effort by fighters to "threaten the security and safety of the people of southern Israel. The [military] will continue to act to protect against those who threaten innocent lives and Israel's sovereignty".

Gaza rocket fire has tapered off significantly since 2014. Israeli attacks killed more than 2,100 Palestinians, mostly civilians, while Palestinian fighters killed six Israeli civilians and 67 soldiers.