GAZA, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Israeli soldiers stationed in northern Gaza Strip shot dead on Friday afternoon two Palestinian children, paramedics and eyewitnesses said.

    The witnesses said that Israeli soldiers opened fire at two Palestinian children, 10 and 8 years old, who were playing on the beach near the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia. After the two children were shot in the chest and the abdomen, they called for an ambulance to come to the area before their deaths, added the witnesses.

    Local paramedics said that the bodies of the two children were evacuated from the area by a Palestinian ambulance and were taken to the nearby Kamal Odwan hospital.

    The Israeli army forces are stationed in the Palestinian-controlled area north of the town in northern Gaza Strip in a bid to prevent Palestinian militant groups from launching homemade rockets at Israel.