Gaza blast kills 4, Israel checks tank fire report

GAZA, June 14 (Reuters) Four young Palestinians died in an explosion in the southern Gaza Strip today, hospital officials said, and the Israeli army was checking reports from residents that they were killed by an Israeli tank shell.

Hospital officials said the four, all aged under 18, had been killed by a shell fired in the town of Rafah near the border with Egypt. Palestinian residents said Israeli troops had been operating in the area.

Rival Palestinian factions have been battling throughout the Gaza Strip, and Hamas and Fatah militants clashed in Rafah earlier today.

REUTERS GP RAI2220