Palestinian militants fired a missile at an Israeli military jeep on Saturday and Israel responded with shelling into the Gaza Strip that killed four civilians.

Officials and witnesses say 25 people were wounded in the flare-up, which was one of the most serious clashes in the border region in months.

The armed wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for firing the anti-tank missile into southern Israel. Four Israeli solders were wounded in the attack.

Sporadic clashes have occurred between Israel and militants in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

The level of violence in the border region, however, has been down significantly since an Israeli military operation in the region in 2008 killed 1,400 Palestinians.

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