Six-year-old girl killed in Gaza explosion

A six-year-old girl was killed and six other children injured in a large explosion in northern Gaza today, Palestinian health officials said.

Witnesses said a group of children stumbled upon a home-made rocket or a mortar shell and began playing with it. The device exploded, injuring all seven children, one of whom died later of her wounds. A boy was in a critical condition.

Moaiya Hassanain, a Palestinian health official, said the explosion occurred in the village of Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip, and the wounded were evacuated to hospital.

The area is a frequent launching pad for militants who fire rockets toward Israel.