Death toll in Gaza offensive now 68

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Israel said it fired a missile at a group of armed Palestinians early today, killing one and wounding three, on the sixth day of an offensive that has killed 68.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia on Monday condemned what he called international indifference to Palestinian suffering in the face Israel’s push into the Gaza Strip, action aimed at halting rocket attacks on Israel.

At least 68 Palestinians have been killed in the offensive, making it the deadliest Israeli incursion into Gaza in more than four years of fighting.

Nine Palestinians died Monday in northern Gaza, including four militants and a 14-year-old girl who residents said was shot as she baked bread with her mother in their garden.

Israeli military sources said armed Palestinians were the target in Tuesday’s air strike but would not comment on reports that a pilot-less drone fired the missile.

In southern Gaza, miles away from the offensive, Palestinian residents said a 4-year-old boy was killed by tank fire next to his house near the town of Khan Younis. The Israeli military said there were no shootings in the area.

Late Monday, the army said it killed a Palestinian gunman who tried to infiltrate the Israeli settlement of Netzer Hazani near Khan Younis. Also, Palestinians said, an Al Aqsa militant was killed in the Jebaliya camp.

In other developments, a spat between Israel and the United Nations escalated after a top U.N. official in the region acknowledged that some of his Palestinian employees were probably members of militant groups.

In the West Bank city of Ramallah, undercover Israeli troops ambushed a car on Monday, killing two members of an elite Palestinian security force and wounding a third, Palestinian security officials said. Army radio said an Israeli was also killed; the army declined to confirm the report.

Israel moved into northern Gaza last week after a Palestinian rocket attack killed two children in the Israeli town of Sderot. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said the operation will continue until the rocket attacks stop.

Despite the Israeli campaign, Palestinian militants managed to fire off two more rockets at Sderot on Monday, slightly wounding one man with shrapnel.