An Israeli aircraft fired on and killed three Palestinian militants of the Islamist Hamas movement, as Israeli forces carried out a ground operation south of Gaza City, according to the Israeli Army.

Israeli troops and tanks were conducting a cross-border operation on the outskirts of the Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical sources and the army said.

During the operation, an aircraft fired and killed three members of the Ezzedin al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Hamas movement, which runs the Gaza Strip since last month's violent takeover of the territory.

One of them, Muhamad Siam, was identified as a local militant leader.

"Troops and tanks operating against terror infrastructure in central Gaza identified several armed Palestinians who were fired at by an aircraft," an Israeli army spokeswoman said.

- AFP