Mideast violence kills mother, 4 children

GAZA CITY (CNN) -- Four Palestinian siblings ages 1 to 6 and their mother were killed Monday when Israeli tank shells hit their house, Palestinian medical and security sources said.

One militant was killed and another was wounded in the morning attack, the sources said.

In a written statement, the Israel Defense Forces said it targeted from the air two Palestinian gunmen carrying bags who were approaching Israeli soldiers.

"A big explosion erupted at the scene following the attack indicating the presence of bombs and explosives in the gunmen's bags," the statement said. "As a result of this big explosion, extensive damage was caused to a house that was near the gunmen and uninvolved civilians were hit.

"The IDF spokesperson wishes to stress that the responsibility for the killing and injuring of uninvolved civilians lies with the terrorist organizations which operate from within civilian populations using them as human shields and risking their lives by keeping bombs and explosives near them."

Palestinian medical and security sources said the children -- ages 1, 3, 4 and 6 -- were killed when three shells hit their house in Beit Hanoun, a city in northern Gaza. Watch a report on the deaths »

An IDF spokeswoman said a tank fired shells toward Palestinian militants and an Israeli aircraft fired at an armed Palestinian approaching Israeli forces. One Israeli soldier was lightly wounded, she said.

In a separate attack, the IDF said it launched an airstrike on an armed militant in Gaza, but no one was hit. E-mail to a friend