Israeli tank shell kills five Palestinian boys

The boys were killed when they came across an unexploded Israeli tank shell which had been fired some days before into the civilian area of Khan Younis in Ghaza. One of the boys, according to the Palestinian authorities, kicked the shell, which exploded.

Three of the boys were thirteen years of age, one was eleven and another, six. All were from the Al-Astan clan in Khan Younis.

The Israeli Defence Force claims it was not operating in the area and denies any responsibility. There are no Palestinian tanks operating in the area.

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY PRAVDA.Ru