Two girls wounded by Israeli fire

Two Palestinian girls were wounded on Thursday by Israeli tank fire near the Bureij refugee camp along the border between the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.



The incident occurred when an Israeli tank shell exploded near their home, AFP quoted Palestinian medics as saying.

The girls aged five and nine were hurt by shrapnel from the blast, according to officials from Gaza emergency services.

An Israeli military spokesman said there was an exchange of fire along the border near the Bureij refugee camp.

"Palestinians opened fire at an army patrol along the security barrier," the spokesman said. "The soldiers responded by firing in the direction of the attackers."