Israel says it will continue its bombardment of populated Palestinian areas in retaliation for militant rocket strikes into Israeli territory, despite the death of a child in the latest shelling.

Tzipi Livni, the foreign minister, said on Tuesday Israel would stand by its new policy of firing artillery shells into Gaza in an effort to stop rocket fire at Israel.

"The role of the Israeli army is to defend Israeli civilians, combat terrorism and prevent rocket attacks," Livni told public radio. "As long as Palestinians fire at residential area, the army must reply."

An Israeli military spokesman echoed Livni's comments.

"There has been no change in policy," he said on customary condition of anonymity. "We will continue to fight them intensely, while trying to avoid hurting innocent civilians."

Hadil Ghabin, a nine-year-old Palestinian girl, was killed and 13 members of her family were wounded on Monday when an Israeli shell struck a house in the Bait Lahiya region of the northern Gaza Strip.

A seven-year-old boy was also killed in an air strike on Friday night.

PHOTO CAPTION

Palestinians carry the body of four-year-old Hadeel Ghabeen during her funeral in the northern Gaza April 11, 2006 after an Israeli artillery shell hit her family house. (REUTERS)