Israel kills five in Gaza

The Israeli army has killed one Hamas fighter and four civilians in central Gaza.

The five Palestinians died when Israeli shells hit their house in Gaza City's Shijia district on Monday morning, medics and Hamas members said.

The Israeli attack killed the Hamas fighter and four of his relatives, including his mother and two of her grandchildren.

The deaths came only hours after Israeli tanks and troops pulled out of central Gaza.

Their withdrawal from the area ended a three-day raid which has caused the death of 15 Palestinian fighters and civilians.

The Israeli military re-entered Gaza in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue an Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas's armed wing in a cross-border raid on June 25.

The Israeli army also wants to halt Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli towns and villages.

Israeli armoured forces are still carrying out operations inside parts of northern and southern Gaza.