Schoolgirl killed by stray bullet

An 11-year old Palestinian girl was killed by a stray bullet in her kitchen today when Israeli troops fired on her neighbourhood in the southern Gaza Strip, relatives and hospital officials said.

The girl, Iman Tulbeh, was shot in the head as soldiers fired toward the al-Amal neighbourhood in the town of Khan Younis, the witnesses said.

The Israeli military said militants had fired a rocket from the area and that troops returned fire. The army said it was investigating the incident.

Family members present at the time said Tulbeh was helping her mother in the kitchen when a bullet entered through an open window, struck the girl in the face, and emerged from the back of her head.

Tulbeh died shortly afterwards.

Also in southern Gaza, Palestinians fired an anti-tank rocket at the settlement of Neve Dekalim, the military said. The rocket hit the settlement fence and no injuries were reported.

In Gaza City, the militant Islamic group Hamas extended a fund-raising drive late into the night yesterday after thousands of Palestinians were still lined up to donate as the campaign ended.

Hamas announced in mosques that it needs money to fight Israel. The group is trying to strengthen itself ahead of an expected Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

Hamas officials refused to say how much money they had collected, but thousands of people lined up to donate small sums of cash, jewellery and even hand grenades.

Hamas fund-raising abroad has been seriously hampered in recent months, with Israel and the United States trying to stop the transfer of funds.