An Israeli strike has killed a Palestinian militant at noon Wednesday in northeast Gaza Strip, residents and medical sources said.

Adham Abu Selmia, spokesman for the medical services, said that Jihad Afana, 20, was killed in the attack.

Abu Selmia told Xinhua that Israeli troops fired a tank shell near Erez crossing point and killed Afana.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement said Afana was a member of its armed wing. In a statement posted on its website, the Al- Quds Brigades of the Islamic Jihad revealed that Afana was conducting "a holy mission."

Shortly before the incident, Palestinian militants fired two mortar shells towards Israel from northern Gaza Strip, witnesses said.