An Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed Israeli troops shot dead two Palestinian children as they went for a swim on the beach in the northern Gaza Strip.

The soldiers reported killing the two children who were evacuated by Palestinian ambulance workers, she added.

She added that a third child, who was slightly wounded, was taken to hospital.

Suleiman Abu Zeibeida, a brother of one of the boys, said they had gone to the beach to go swimming.