Israeli soldiers shot and killed two Hamas gunmen in the northern Gaza Strip this morning. The men were on their way to attack Israeli forces, the Islamist group said.
Palestinian medics said the bodies of the two men were brought to hospital after they were shot near a former Jewish settlement in Gaza.
An Israeli military spokesman said soldiers had opened fire at two armed men as they approached a border fence with Israel posing a threat to troops operating just outside the frontier. Both men were found to be carrying grenades and guns, he said.
Hamas, which has launched hundreds of attacks against Israelis, said in a statement it had sent the men to plant bombs against Israeli forces.
Israeli soldiers often shoot at Palestinians who approach the border with Gaza to try to prevent armed infiltrations, and also periodically launch raids in that area to prevent rockets from being launched at Israeli towns.