Tension between Israel and the Palestinians reach fever-pitch again Tuesday after Israeli artillery shelling killed seven people, including three children and left 10 others wounded in Sheja'eya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City. Israel said the shelling was in retaliation to homemade rocket attacks by suspected Hamas militants on southern Israel communities.

Israel fired six tank shell Tuesday afternoon hitting a house and a soccer playground killing four people, as well as three children instantly. Palestinian medics who rushed to the scene added that 10 others were wounded in the fresh violence.

Adham Abu Selmeya, spokesman of Gaza emergency services in the Islamic Hamas movement's ministry of health, told a news conference at Shiffa Hospital in Gaza City that the Israeli artillery fire targeted civilian facilities and all the casualties were civilians.

Abu Selmeya said, "This is an awful massacre committed against women and children. Severe damages were caused to the houses in the area. Tthis awful crime had increased the death toll within the last three days to six people, in addition to 38 others who were wounded."

An Israeli war jet later pounded a suspected safehouse of Islamid Jihad militants. The air strike killed three militants who were reported to be planning to launch rockets from eastern Gaza City.

The Hamas movement's armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades vowed revenge for Israel's alleged military attack against civilians

Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obeida said the group would be committed to calm as long as Israel is committed to it.

"We are studying the situation and we are evaluating it, but the occupation will pay a heavy price for its ongoing crimes committed against the Palestinian people," said Abu Obeida.