Israeli air strike kills two Palestinians in Gaza

GAZA, Oct 12 (Reuters) An Israeli missile fired from an unmanned drone killed two Palestinians including a young girl and wounded more than 10 others in the Shijaia neighbourhood in Gaza City today, local residents and hospital staff said.

An Israeli army spokesman confirmed the attack was aimed at a senior militant from the armed wing of the Hamas, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, named Ashraf Ferwana.

Local residents said Ferwana survived the attack but that his brother, Ayman, was killed. The residents said the Ferwana family house was completely destroyed by the missile.

Israel has mounted several major military operations in Gaza which it says are aimed at retrieving a soldier abducted in a cross-border raid by militants on June 25 and to stem cross-border rocket fire by militants.

Around 230 Palestinians, half of them civilians, have been killed in Israel's raids.

Hamas is sworn to Israel's destruction. Its armed wing has carried out nearly 60 suicide bombings against Israelis after a Palestinian uprising began in 2000. Its last suicide bombing was in August 2004.

Hamas, which controls the Palestinian government, has rebuffed international pressure to recognise Israel, renounce violence and abide by interim peace deals.

REUTERS DH PM0053