As a UN aid worker is killed in Gaza, the International Red Cross accuses Israel of breaching humanitarian law.

Conditions for the residents of Gaza worsened still further this afternoon when a United Nations aid agency suspended its operations after one of its workers was killed.

And in unusually strong terms the International Red Cross today criticised Israel after finding four emaciated children among a group of corpses in a house just metres from an Israeli military position.

The ICRC chief in Gaza accused the Israelis of breaching international humanitarian law in what he called this "shocking incident".

The day began with the first rocket attack on Israel out of Lebanon since this Gaza crisis began. Three Katyusha rockets were fired from an area north of the Lebanese coastal village of Naqoura, towards northern Israel.

One hit a nursing home in Nahariya, slightly injuring two people.

Israel retaliated with an artillery salvo into southern Lebanon. But the Israelis say they believe it was Palestinian militiamen, and not Hezbollah, behind today's attacks.

In Gaza City residents described last night's bombardment as among the heaviest so far. In the devastated Zeitoun neighbourhood, the Red Cross found the four starving children.

And this afternoon the United Nations Relief and Work Agency in Gaza suspended operations after one of its drivers was killed as his convoy approached the Erez crossing.

765 Palestinians are thought to have died since the Israeli operation began a fortnight ago.

Israel has confirmed the loss of two soldiers today, one killed by a Hamas anti-tank missile.

Israel has banned international journalists from entering Gaza. The accompanying report by Jonathan Rugman is from the Israel-Gaza border.

By: Jonathan Rugman