Two Israeli air strikes on two checkpoints of the Hamas-led police force killed at least six Palestinians, including a child, in the southern Gaza Strip yesterday.

The attack on Khan Younis, which left three policemen and three civilians dead, including a girl, has raised fears that the fragile ceasefire is on the brink of collapse.

Medics reported that four others were wounded in the strikes, which occurred just weeks after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire aimed at reducing violence in Gaza was put into effect over five months ago.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the recent strikes, but the assault has added to the growing death toll in Gaza since November, when a ceasefire with Hamas came into effect and at least 680 Palestinians have been killed.