Two Palestinian militants were killed during overnight and predawn Israeli airstrikes on northern and southern Gaza Strip, medics and Hamas movement said on Monday.

Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas armed wing, said in a leaflet that Ekrema Abu O'uda, 22, was killed when Israeli helicopter launched one missile at a group of militants in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun.

The group said its members and Israeli soldiers exchanged fire on the ground, adding that Hamas militants fired several grenades at the soldiers and forced them to leave the area which is in the east of the town.

A second Palestinian was killed at around midnight in an Israeli airstrike on his car that on the way to east of Rafah town in southern Gaza Strip, Palestinian medics and witnesses said.

Medics at Rafah Hospital said the driver, Noor al-Dbari, was killed and several bystanders were injured.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2008)