ISMAILIA, Egypt,(Reuters) – A 13-year-old Egyptian girl was shot and critically wounded on Thursday near an Israeli-controlled border junction between Egypt, Israel and the Gaza Strip, Egyptian residents said.

Residents in the border area said Samah Nayef Abu Garrad was shot in the head as she played outside her home, about 700 metres from the Kerem Shalom border terminal.

Egyptian security officials, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, confirmed the girl was shot. They declined to comment on the source of the fire, saying that would have to be determined by an investigation.

A cousin of the girl, tribal leader Sheikh Darwish Abu Garrad, said the gunfire appeared to have come “from the direction of Israel”.

The Israeli army said it was checking the report.