GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories (AFP) - Hamas claimed responsibility for shellfire that killed four civilians in southern Israel and wounded another 10 people on Monday, but insisted the victims were soldiers.

"The Zionist enemy acknowledges that four of its soldiers were killed and 10 wounded in a Qassam shelling in Eshkol," said a statement from the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.