Israeli Navy kills four Gaza militants

The Israeli Navy Monday killed four militants who were allegedly planning a maritime attack off the Gaza coast.

Gaza's ruling Islamist Hamas movement said four bodies have been recovered and two people were missing.

"Earlier this morning, an Israel Navy force in the area of Nusseirat identified a squad of terrorists wearing diving suits on their way to execute a terror attack," the Israel Defence Forces said on its website. "The force fired and hit the terrorists."

Palestinian witnesses said they saw Israeli helicopters and naval forces firing on a vessel off the coast of Nusseirat, south of Gaza City, around 4.00 a.m.