Jerusalem – An errant Israeli missile killed two Palestinian civilians in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday as Israel defended its airstrikes against militants following an assault that left three children dead a day earlier.
In the latest incident, Palestinian officials said a woman and her brother died when an Israeli missile struck a house at the entrance to the town of Khan Younis. At least 13 other people, including three children, were injured.
Israeli officials said an aircraft fired two missiles at a car that was believed to be carrying members of the Popular Resistance Committees, a group that has frequently launched Kassam rockets into southern Israel. One missile hit the road and the other struck the house, according to Israeli military sources and Palestinian witnesses.
Hospital officials identified the dead as Zakaria Ahmed, 45, who was visiting from Saudi Arabia, and his sister, Fatima Ahmed, 37. The family’s house was heavily damaged, and the spray of shrapnel pierced walls, doors and a water heater.
“Today we just missed the target, unfortunately,” said Capt. Noa Meir, an Israeli army spokeswoman. “This was another unfortunate result of this kind of war.”
Meir said Israeli’s military sought to avoid civilian casualties.
Lt. Gen Dan Halutz, the army’s chief of staff, ordered an investigation into what went wrong in the recent airstrikes.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement condemning the latest airstrike.
Wednesday’s attack came as mourners joined a noisy funeral procession near Gaza City for three Palestinians, ages 16, 7 and 5, who were killed Tuesday when Israel fired missiles at a car carrying members of the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade.
