Israeli airstrike kills two Palestinian militants in Gaza

Reporting from Gaza City —  Two Palestinians were killed Friday in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical officials reported.

Israel’s army said in a statement that the men had beeb involved in launching rockets at Israel over the last week, as well as other attacks in recent years.

They were identified as Mohammed Fasih, 23, and Osama Hassumi, 29, both of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip.

Militants attacking Israel from Gaza “do not have immunity, and will not be free to plan, plot and operate,” said Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israeli military spokesman. “Gaza rocket terrorism does not pay.”

Hamas radio stations in Gaza reported that the men were members of the militant group known as the Popular Resistance Committees.

Witnesses said an Israeli aircraft fired at least one missile at their car as they drove in the Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City.

The Palestinian news agency Maan described the strike as the first targeted assassination by Israel since the formation of a Palestinian unity government at the beginning of June.

Tension between Israel and Gaza militant groups has increased since the presumed abduction of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank on June 12.

Militants in Gaza have fired 30 rockets in the last two weeks, five of which were intercepted before impact, an Israeli army statement said. This week, a rocket fell short and killed a 3-year-old Palestinian girl in Gaza.

On Thursday, Israel released the names of the two main suspects in the disappearance of the Israeli youths. They were identified as Marwan Kawasma and Amer Abu Aysha, Hamas operatives from Hebron.

Neither of them has been seen since the teens went missing while hitchhiking home, Israeli authorities said.

Hamas officials have voiced approval of the abduction but have not claimed responsibility for it.

Special correspondents Abu Alouf reported from Gaza City and Sobelman from Jerusalem.