Two Palestinians and at least three others were injured in a fierce gun battle that broke out early Tuesday between Islamist Jihad fighters and the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, witnesses and the radical Palestinian group said.

Medical sources said another member of the Islamist Jihad was killed, few hours after the first wounded fighter died shortly after being taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Al-Quds Brigades (Islamist Jihad’s armed wing) said Israeli soldiers were among others injured.

The clash erupted near a border crossing in central Gaza. The Israeli military said it struck a group of Palestinians planting explosives near the border fence.

The Islamist Jihad group meanwhile said it clashed with Israeli forces who entered Gaza. The fighters said they came under fire from a helicopter and Israeli tanks.

Gaza’s Hamas rulers have tried to maintain a cease-fire with Israel since the end of the Gaza war in January 2009. However, smaller armed groups sporadically carry out attacks.

(Al-Arabiya)