Updated at 10 pm
GAZA CITY: An elderly Palestinian was killed and nine other people wounded, including two Hamas militants, in an Israeli air strike on a car in Gaza City on Sunday, medical and security sources said.
The 70-year-old, who lived in the Zeitoun neighbourhood where a warplane slammed at least one missile into the vehicle, died of his wounds after the raid in which he lost both legs and hands, a medical source said.
Among the wounded were two Hamas militants who had been in the car. One of them is reported to be in a serious condition. Seven other Palestinians -- including five children -- were also wounded.
The Israeli military confirmed that the strike had targeted Hamas militants after recent rocket attacks on the Jewish state claimed by the ruling Islamist movement's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades.
"A vehicle in which a senior cell that are involved in the launching of rockets from Hamas was targeted," a military spokeswoman said.
The air strike came just hours after three Israelis were wounded in a rocket attack on the southern town of Sderot that was claimed by the Brigades.
Late Saturday, the Israeli military aborted a planned air strike on a house in the northern Gaza Strip after a crowd of Palestinians formed a human shield around the building.
Ahead of an Israeli cabinet meeting Sunday at which Palestinian rocket fire was to be discussed, Defence Minister Amir Peretz warned again that "those responsible for rocket fire would pay the price".
Local media said the cabinet was unlikely to make any new decisions other than to continue pinpointed attacks, after several ministers called for targeted killing operations against Hamas leaders, including prime minister Ismail Haniya.
Sunday's death brings to 5,571 the number of people who have been killed since the outbreak of the second uprising in September 2000 according to an AFP count. The vast majority of those killed were Palestinians.
