Israeli warplanes have attacked the central Gaza Strip, killing three Palestinians in the area.

Palestinian medics said the Israeli airstrike killed the three, AFP reported.

Muawiya Hassanein, the head of Gaza emergency services, announced that the bodies of the three were taken to a hospital in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza. He added that the eastern part of Gaza was also attacked by Israeli warplanes.

Hassanein said the dead were all members of the Islamic Jihad resistance group.

The Israeli military confirmed the airstrike but gave no further details.

The attack came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to launch an "immediate and powerful response" to any rocket fire at Israel.

During a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu claimed that 20 mortar bombs and rockets had been fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip last week.

"I view this very seriously. The government’s policy is clear; any shooting at our territory will receive an immediate and powerful response," he threatened.

Earlier in the day, medics reported that two other Palestinians were killed in cross-border fire in the northern Gaza Strip.

(Press TV)