GAZA, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Three Palestinian militants were killed in a clash with Israeli troops on Monday in the northern Gaza Strip near the border fence with Israel, medical officials and Hamas said.

An official in the Islamist group which controls the coastal territory said three of its fighters were killed in an exchange of fire with Israeli troops near a key border crossing with Israel.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said troops fired at a group of militants who had approached the frontier in an attempt to launch mortar shells into Israel.

The Israeli army frequently carries out attacks against militants in the coastal territory as part of what it says attempts to stop them from firing rockets at southern Israeli towns and placing explosives near the border fence aimed at attacking Israeli troops. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Writing by Avida Landau; Editing by Sami Aboudi)

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