GAZA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army killed early on Saturday morning four Palestinian gunmen on the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel, security sources and local media in Gaza reported.

The sources told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that the gunmen are militant members of Islamic Hamas movement's armed wing al-Qassam Brigades.

The sources said that the four came from the same neighborhood in Wadi al-Salga village in the east of the town of Deir el-Ballah in central Gaza Strip, close to the border with Israel.

Residents in the village and local media reports in Gaza confirmed the death of the four and identified them as Abdullah al-Hamayda, Abdullah al-Ghamri, Abdullah al-Masri and Ahmad al-Odeini.

The sources added that at around 3:00 a.m. local time, the four approached the fence of the border with Israel equipped with guns and arms.

Residents in eastern Deir el-Ballah heard the sounds of intensive gunfire that went on for around one hour.

The residents said that an Israeli armored vehicle reached the bodies of the four, pulled them into Israel and took their weapons.

Israeli Army Spokesperson Avichai Adrei said in a press statement that the militants were armed with AK-47 assault rifles, hand grenades and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.

Hamas and al-Qassam Brigades have not issued any official statement yet.

The Israeli army said that many armed Palestinians were shot dead by the troops after crossing the border, firing at Israeli soldiers and tossing a grenade.

On Aug. 1, the Israeli army killed a Palestinian militant who approached the fence in the southern Gaza Strip and targeted Israeli soldiers with gunfire. Enditem

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