JERUSALEM, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Three Palestinians were killed in an Israel air strike on Sunday night after they approached the fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, according to Israeli officials and media.
An Israeli military spokesperson said in a statement that an Israeli aircraft opened fire at a group of three men after they attempted to damage the security fence.
"The suspects were apparently involved in placing an improvised explosive device (IED) adjacent to it," the spokesperson added.
Israeli media reported that three Gazans were killed in the incident.
No injuries or fatalities were reported among the Israeli forces.
The incident raised again tensions in the area, after the killing of five Gaza protesters on Friday was retaliated by the Islamic Jihad, a Gaza-based militant group, with a barrage of dozens of rockets fired at southern Israel's communities.
Israel responded with air strikes, hitting Islamic Jihad sites, according to the army.
The recent flare-up took place as talks brokered by Egypt to achieve a long-term cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that runs Gaza, have continued during the weekend and Sunday.
Tensions around Gaza have been high since Gazans launched an ongoing protest against the blockade on March 30. Israel responded with live fire, killing at least 200 Palestinians since the protest began.
