An Israeli airstrike killed a Palestinian operative in the southern Gaza Strip early Wednesday, medical officials said.

Sharif Abdel Hadi Abbey, 22, died and two others were lightly to moderately injured by the strike on Khuza'a, east of Khan Younis, Palestinian medical and security sources said.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said the army had no immediate comment.

The apparent army operation comes days after an Israeli airstrike killed a senior Hamas military leader, following a recent upsurge in projectile fire from Gaza into southern Israel, and hours after 42 Palestinian civilians were reported injured in an explosion at the home of a Hamas-affiliated commander.