An Israeli airstrike on a vehicle has killed two Palestinian security officials and critically wounded another in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials said.

The Israeli military confirmed it had launched an airstrike in Gaza on Wednesday, but had no further comment.

Hamas and Palestinian hospital officials said the car they were travelling in was hit east of the town of Rafah on the territory's southern border with Egypt.

They added that the strike killed the officials responsible for overseeing tunnels used to import goods from Egypt.

Emergency services identified the dead as employees of a border patrol unit.

'Assassinated'

In a statement, Hamas said "Israel has assassinated our officers as they were doing their duty in protecting the security of our people".

Israel routinely launches airstrikes, and last week six Palestinians were killed in two attacks within a 12-hour period.

PHOTO CAPTION

An Israeli air strike on a vehicle killed three Palestinian security officials in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, 19 Sep. 2012.

Al-Jazeera