The Israeli air force has hit a target in the northern Gaza Strip, killing two people and wounding several others, according to Palestinian reports.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said the target was a vehicle driving along Gaza’s main coastal road near the al-Shati refugee camp, not far from the home of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Palestinian sources have named the two killed in the attack as Mohammed al-Fasih, 23, and Usama al-Hassumi, 25. Both are thought to have belonged to the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees organisation. The group is primarily made-up of ex-Fatah militants who oppose PA leader Mahmoud Abbas’s moderate stance towards Israel.

The IDF said Mr al-Fasih and Mr al-Hassumi were involved in planning terrorist attacks and had fired rockets into Israel’s southern region in recent weeks.

Defence Minister Moshe Ya'alon said Israel would “hunt down and hit hard” anyone carrying out rocket attacks. He said that Israel holds Hamas responsible for any rocket fire originating from the Gaza Strip.