Three militants were injured in clashes between the Hamas movement and the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) group on Thursday.

The Islamic Jihad movement said in a press release that clashes erupted after an argument between one of its fighters and Hamas gunmen in the outskirts of Gaza city.

"The argument developed into clashes which left two Hamas militants injured," said the press release, adding "one of our fighters was kidnapped and beaten up by Hamas militants."

The kidnapped Islamic Jihad fighter was later found in one of Gaza's streets, despite a deal that has been reached between the two movements to release him.

However, Hamas did not comment on the issue.

Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007 and routed forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement.

It's not the first time the two movements clash, previous ones in 2007 left gunmen from both groups either dead or injured.

Other Gaza militant groups have been in dispute with the Hamas over a ban of firing rockets on neighboring Israeli cities, accusing the movement of maintaining an undeclared ceasefire with the Jewish state since the end of the Israeli war in Gaza in January 2009.