GAZA, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian militant in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, Palestinian medical workers and a militant group said.

The gunman, affiliated with the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, was shot as he tried to plant an explosive device along the border with Israel, the militant group said.

An Israeli army spokesman said a Palestinian gunman had opened fire on troops from across the border fence in central Gaza.

"The soldiers returned fire and hit him," the spokesman said.

Israel frequently carries out raids against militants in the coastal enclave in what it says is an effort to stop militants from firing rockets into southern Israeli towns and planting explosives along the border that target its soldiers. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Writing by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Michael Winfrey)

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