GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories — An explosion injured five Palestinian children in the central Gaza Strip on Saturday, a hospital said, blaming Israeli tank fire.

The children -- aged four to 10 and from the same family -- were in light to moderate condition after being hit by a shell fired by an Israeli tank east of Deir al-Balah, according to the Al-Quds hospital in the town.

Witnesses said, however, that there were no Israeli tanks in the area at the time and that the explosion might have been caused by an old bomb.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said she was not familiar with the incident.

The Israeli military maintains an exclusion zone just inside the Gaza border that it has declared off-limits to Palestinians, and troops frequently carry out military activity in the area. AGENCIES