IDF confirmed with Xinhua that all the detainees, four of which were Hamas legislative council members, were taken for questioning by security forces.

The detentions could be part of an attempt to exert further pressure on Hamas to release Israeli captive Gilad Shalit, following the failure of recent efforts to win his release.

Earlier Thursday, an Israel Air Force strike killed two Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, Ha'aretz daily online report quoted a Palestinian source as saying.

But IDF denied the report, saying that the army was not operating in the strip at the time.

On Wednesday, a special ministerial committee established after the failure of prisoners swap deal recommended the Israeli government to tighten the control of Gaza Strip crossings and to add pressure on Hamas.