Gaza - Eight Palestinians were killed Saturday when an Israeli tank shell landed on a house in the Gaza Strip, witnesses and medics said.

The eight were apparently members of one family.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment but a spokesman said the incident, which took place in the town of Jabalia near Gaza City, was being looked into.

The tank shell landed shortly after Palestinian militants fired three rockets at the Israeli town of Ashkelon, lightly injuring one person.

The Palestinian death toll in Operation Cast Lead, which began on December 27, has surpassed 805 people, with over 3,300 injured.

Three Israeli civilians and nine soldiers have been killed. (dpa)