Israeli forces kill five Palestinian children in Gaza
Five children have been killed in two separate Israeli strikes around Gaza City, according to Palestinian medics.
Last Updated: 11:43AM GMT 05 Jan 2009
Three children were killed by a tank shell in Zeitun and two were killed in Shati by a naval strike, according to the head of Gaza medical emergency services Moawiya Hassanein.
Medical officials said that at least 12 civilians had been killed on Monday so far.
More than 510 Gazans have been killed and some 2,500 have been wounded since the Israeli attacks began.
The latest deaths come as foreign leaders and diplomats are rushing to the Middle East in an attempt to secure a ceasefire.
French President Sarkozy is heading to the Middle East to try to persuade Israeli and Arab leaders to agree to a 48-hour truce to allow humanitarian aid to reach victims of the violence.
A separate, high-profile EU delegation and a Russian envoy are already there.