A Palestinian was killed and three others were wounded on Monday when their partly-destroyed house collapsed in eastern Gaza city, medical sources said.

The sources said the house fell when the residents were trying to support its ceiling with pillars.

According to health emergency official Mu'awia Hassanein, more people are believed to be stuck under the debris.

The house was first hit by an Israeli shell during the major military offensive on Gaza Strip in January. The family remained living on the first floor of the three-story building.

Thousands of houses, civilian properties and Hamas-run premises were destroyed during the three-week military operation which ended on January 18. More than 1,400 Palestinians were also killed during the operation.

Most of the displaced people in Gaza are living in temporary tent camps or inside their houses which have been bombed but remained standing. Only a few families were able to rent apartments.

Israel imposes a blockade on the Hamas-ruled coastal strip and bars the import of construction materials.

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2009)