ISRAEL’S military reported downing a drone launched from Gaza today, the first time that it has encountered an unmanned aircraft since the start of its murderous offensive last week.

The Israel Defence Force (IDF) said that it would examine the drone to see if it was capable of carrying rockets or other weaponry.

The IDF said that the aircraft had been shot down in mid-flight by a Patriot surface-to-air missile near the city of Ashdod. 

Hamas claimed to have launched three drones at Israel yesterday, but Israel insisted that there was only one.

The Islamist group said that it has developed two types of drones — one for intelligence gathering and another for delivering munitions. 

It admitted losing contact with one of the drones, adding that  targets included the IDF compound in Tel Aviv.

It is the first time that Hamas has publicly acknowledged having drones in its arsenal.

Israeli warplanes have launched more than 1,300 air strikes on Gaza since last Tuesday, killing at least 175 Palestinians, three-quarters of whom were unarmed civilians.

The southern Gaza city of Khan Younis was hit by two Israeli missiles yesterday, killing four.

European Hospital officials said that Saddam Moamar, his wife Hanadai and his father Mousa were killed by the bomb that hit their house. 

Their neighbour Maher Abu Mor was killed in another raid while standing on the roof of his home.

No Israelis have been killed as a result of Hamas rocket attacks.