Orthodox church says it was hit by Israeli air strike in Gaza

A Greek Orthodox church in the Gaza Strip which was sheltering hundreds of displaced Palestinians was hit overnight by an Israeli air strike, the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and Palestinian health officials said.

Gaza's Hamas-run government media office said 18 Christian Palestinians were killed. There was no word from the church on any final death toll.

The Israeli military said a part of the church was damaged in a strike on a militant command centre and it was reviewing the incident.