At least two Palestinians have been killed and seven others wounded in an Israeli attack in northern part of the Gaza Strip, medics and witnesses say.

The incident happened on Wednesday afternoon when Israeli forces fired several artillery shells into the town of Beit Hanun, Ma’an news agency reported.

The Israeli fire killed two people, later identified as Mohammad al-Kafarneh, 22, and Kasim al-Shindary, and left seven others wounded.

There was a 10-year-old girl among those injured, three of whom are in critical condition, according to hospital officials.

The armed wing for the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine issued a statement, saying an Israeli patrol had crossed into the Palestinian territory along the 300-meter no-go zone east of Beit Hanun.

The National Resistance Brigades said its forces targeted an Israeli soldier "who was inside Gaza, near Beit Hanun, at 2:50 p.m. on Wednesday evening."

An Israeli military statement later claimed its forces opened fire on Palestinians they suspected of preparing to fire a rocket at the Israeli forces.

Most Palestinians in the area are farmers and they have to risk their lives to go to their farms near the Israeli border as their soldiers frequently open fire on them, accusing them of trying to approach the "security fence."

(Press TV)