UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the killing of four Palestinian children by an Israeli tank shell in the Gaza Strip.

Ban’s spokesman issued a statement on Tuesday, saying that the UN chief is "very concerned at an escalating situation in Gaza."

At least 10 Palestinians, including four children, were killed and dozens injured after an Israeli tank fired shots at a home in the Gaza Strip, medics reported on Tuesday.

"He calls on all to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law," the statement added.

Israel regularly carries out attacks on Gaza, killing and injuring Palestinians. Tel Aviv launched a deadly war on the coastal enclave at the turn of 2009.

More than 1,400 Palestinians were killed during the three-week Israeli land, sea and air offensive in the impoverished sliver. The offensive also inflicted $1.6 billion damage to the Gazan economy.

Some 1.5 million people in the Gaza Strip are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.

Poverty and unemployment rates stand at approximately 80 percent and 60 percent in the Gaza Strip respectively, reports say.

(Press TV)