Members of Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad say Israel has warned the militant group's two top leaders against trying to enter the Gaza Strip this week.

The pair had planned to visit Friday, along with Khaled Meshal the leader-in-exile of Hamas, Islamic Jihad's sister group.

Israel and Gaza's ruling Hamas have been holding indirect talks, through Egypt, following an Israeli offensive on militant targets in Gaza last month.

A truce between Israel and Hamas has been in place since November 21, when an Egypt-brokered cease-fire went into effect, putting an end to Israel's eight-day Gaza offensive, Operation Pillar of Defense. 

Two Islamic Jihad members said Thursday that Egypt had relayed warnings that Israel would consider the Gaza truce over if the group's leaders enter Gaza. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to discuss the issue with the media.

Israel's Defense Ministry had no immediate comment.