Israel air strike kills eight in Southern Gaza - medics

An Israeli air strike killed eight people in southern Gaza early on Wednesday, medics said, on the 23rd day of a bloody battle between Israel and Hamas.

The victims were all members of the same family, who were killed in a strike that hit the southern city of Khan Yunis, emergency services spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said.

Their deaths took the total Palestinian toll from 23 days of Israeli bombardments to more than 1,240, according to Qudra's figures.

Fifty-six Israelis have been killed, 53 of them soldiers and three civilians inside Israel by cross-border rocket or mortar fire.

Israel also hit three mosques in Gaza City, security sources said.