Six Palestinians have been killed after the Israeli Army shelled a house in the northern Gaza Strip.

Four children and an elderly man were among the dead, while the children's mother is one of several people injured - health officials say she is in a "very serious condition".

The health ministry said shells were fired at a house in the town of Beit Hanoun - the family inside were eating breakfast at the time.

The Israeli army say there was an air and tank attack on a group of armed men which were said to be nearby, but they say no houses were targeted.

David Chater, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Gaza described chaotic scenes at the house and pools of blood in the street and the wreckage of the house.

Residents said an Israeli shell smashed through the ceiling of the one storey dwelling; the dead included a seven-month old baby.

"A family was sitting and having their breakfast here and now what? We come to pick up their body parts," said Abu Mohamad, a neighbor.

David Chater said he heard "more tank shells and machine gun fire in the area" as they filmed the rescue operation.

Border fence

Hamas claims one of its snipers shot an Israeli soldier in the town, and the Israeli military confirmed one of its men was "slightly wounded" by gunfire.

A spokeswoman for the Israeli military said the operation in Beit Hanoun was launched to "ensure that rocket crews, snipers and tunnel diggers are kept away from the border".

Israel has held back from entering into a formal agreement with Hamas, who last week offered a six-month truce if Israel lifts its current embargo on the Gaza Strip.

PHOTO CAPTION 

A medic carries the body of a girl who was killed after her house was shelled in the northern Gaza Strip April 28, 2008.

Al-Jazeera