Three Palestinians were killed in an exchange of fire with the Israeli military near the northern Gaza Strip border, dpa reported.
A Palestinian ambulance took the bodies of three Palestinians shot north of the town of Beit Lahia to nearby Kamal Odwan hospital, Gaza emergency services chief Adham Abu Selmeya said.
Locals said they heard intensive gunfire in the area early Thursday, adding Israel used helicopter gunships in the gunfight with the three, who were apparently trying to cut the border fence.
An Israeli military spokesman in Tel Aviv said the army was preparing a reaction.