At least 69 Israeli soldiers were injured when a rocket fired from Gaza exploded in an army camp in southern Israel, the military has said.

The rocket hit an equipment store at the Zikkim training base, sending shrapnel flying through surrounding tents where soldiers were sleeping.

Four of the wounded soldiers were in a serious condition, the military said.

It is the largest number of injuries sustained in a single rocket attack against Israel from Gaza.

Correspondents say both the government and the army will come under strong pressure to retaliate forcefully.

Later, a Palestinian man and three of his children were wounded by Israeli shell fire in Beit Hanoun, Palestinian medics said.

Shrapnel

The Israeli military said the Qassam rocket was fired from Beit Hanoun at about 0130 local time (2230 GMT), hitting the training base, about 1km (0.6 miles) north of the Israel-Gaza border.

In addition to the four soldiers said to be in a serious condition, a further seven have been described by the military as moderately wounded.

Twenty-nine soldiers, who suffered only minor injuries or shock, were discharged from hospital on Tuesday morning.

Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees claimed responsibility for the attack.

A spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry, Mark Regev, told the BBC that his country would respond to the strike.

PHOTO CAPTION

An Israeli soldier prays near the site where a rocket, fired from the Gaza Strip, hit an army training base near the coastal city of Ashkelon, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007. (AP)

BBC (summarized)