Israeli aircraft and tanks on Thursday morning struck a squad of Hamas militants near the Gaza border fence, the army said in a statement.

The militants were hit while preparing to fire an anti-tank missile at troops patrolling the area.

"The army will not tolerate any attempt by terrorist groups to harm Israeli civilians and soldiers. Hamas is solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip," the statement said.

Overnight Monday, Israeli aircraft struck two Hamas targets in southern Gaza in response to a shooting and rocket attack against Israeli targets earlier. In one attack, a Palestinian sniper fired at a civilian car.

Later in the day, militants fired a rocket towards the coastal city of Ashkelon. No one was hurt.

Palestinian sources did not report injuries in the air strikes, one of which was said to have hit the Islamist group's military wing.