Israeli missile attack kills three

Israeli helicopters shot two missiles at a car driving through the Gaza Strip today, killing three people, Palestinian security sources said.

The air strike demolished the car, which was travelling on a road used by Palestinians near the Israeli settlement of Netzarim, witnesses said.

Israeli jets were heard flying overhead shortly after two explosions were heard. Smoke billowed from the wreckage of the car and ambulances rushed to the scene.

The car apparently belonged to a member of the Hamas militant group, residents said. The Israeli army had no immediate comment.

“A missile from the sky hit the car,” said Ahmed Asmat, 35, a farmer who was working about 100 yards from the explosion. Intense gunfire came from the direction of the settlement, about 500 yards away, he said.

Israel’s air force has routinely sent helicopter gunships and warplanes to kill Palestinian militants in pinpoint airstrikes. The last such strike came on Saturday night when a helicopter fired two missiles into a car, killing three Islamic Jihad members.

The white car engulfed in flames and black smoke, was on a sand road near the Mediterranean coast.

Screaming crowds of people threw sand on to the wreckage and beat the flames with coats and scarves to try to put out the fire.

A man leaned into the burning wreckage and used a blanket to lift out a charred, decapitated body and heaved it on to a stretcher.