Child dies in Israeli air strike in Gaza

GAZA, June 11 (UPI) -- A 4-year-old girl was killed and her mother injured Wednesday during an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip, Palestinian doctors said.

Hamas security officials said the intended target was a group of gunmen but the missile missed its mark, striking a yard where the child and mother were, Ynetnews.com reported.

The Israeli army confirmed the strike, saying forces targeted a gunman in the southern area of the strip, where mortar attacks on the Nir Oz kibbutz has been launched.

"This is not the first time that terror organizations have no qualms about carrying out terror attacks using any means possible," a military source told Ynetnews.com. "They use areas where civilians reside and by doing so endanger them and then point their fingers toward Israel."

Mortar fire hit a factory in Nir Oz for second time Wednesday, forcing workers to evacuate after fires broke out. At least one person was injured.

At least 18 mortar shells were fired at the kibbutz Tuesday.

In Jerusalem, several dozen residents from the Negev region rallied outside of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office, calling on government officials to decide its response to the escalating violence in the Gaza area.