GAZA, Aug 26 (Reuters) - An Israeli air strike hit a Reuters vehicle in Gaza City on Saturday, wounding two journalists as they covered a military incursion, doctors and residents said. One of the Palestinian journalists, who worked for a local media organisation, was seriously wounded. A cameraman working for Reuters was knocked unconscious in the air strike, one of several in the area.
The Israeli army said the vehicle was hit because it was acting suspiciously in an area of combat and had not been identified as belonging to the media.
"During the operation, there was an aerial attack on a suspicious vehicle that drove in a suspicious manner right by the forces," army spokeswoman Captain Noa Meir said.
"This car was not identified by the army as a press vehicle," she said. "If journalists were hurt, we regret it."
The missile struck the vehicle after dark. The armoured car was clearly labelled as a media vehicle, with signs on all sides, including the roof.
Michael Lawrence, Reuters Managing Editor for Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: "We are deeply concerned at this attack on a clearly marked press vehicle as journalists were doing their job to report the story from Gaza.
"We understand that the army says it had no intention of targeting the media, but this incident is totally unacceptable and we urge a careful examination of how this happened to ensure there is no repeat."
Both journalists were by the doors, covering an Israeli military incursion into the Shijaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City, known as a stronghold of militant groups.
Sabbah Hmaida, who works for a local news Web site, was seriously wounded in the legs.
Fadel Shana, a Reuters cameraman, received no major bodily wounds in the air strike, but was knocked unconscious. Doctors said his condition was not life threatening.
Blood spattered the seats of the armoured vehicle and the ground nearby.
Israel has often targeted Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip with air strikes during an uprising since 2000.
A gunman from the Hamas Islamist group was killed in a later air strike nearby, the group said.
More than 180 Palestinians, about half of them militants, have been killed since Israel launched an offensive in June aimed at recovering a captured soldier and ending cross-border rocket fire.
Israel withdrew troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip in Sept. 2005 after 38 years of occupation.
