Israeli troops killed at least five Palestinians, including three civilians, during a raid into the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip yesterday, witnesses and hospital officials said.

They said an Israeli tank fired at a home near the southern town of Khan Younis, killing an Islamic Jihad gunman as he stood outside. The shell also killed his mother, a sister and a brother, who were in the house. Two other occupants were wounded.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said troops were searching an area between Khan Younis and the nearby Gaza border for Palestinians involved in rocket fire, and had come under attack by local gunmen. A tank fired at a building after gunmen were spotted taking shelter in it, she said.

The army said its forces killed two gunmen in separate incidents. Hamas said one of its gunmen was killed, but there was no immediate confirmation of another death.