(Updates with Israeli army confirmation)

GAZA, Feb 22 (Reuters) - An Israeli missile killed at least two Palestinian militants and wounded a third in the central Gaza Strip, medical staff and Hamas security officials said.

The Hamas officials, who did not wish to be named, said the militants were members of the Islamic Jihad militant group who were on foot east of the Maghazi refugee camp, close to the border fence with the Jewish state, when they were targeted.

An Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed an air strike had been carried out against "terror elements" in the Gaza Strip.

Israel frequently carries out missile strikes and raids against militants in the Gaza Strip in what it says is an effort to stop them launching rockets into southern Israeli towns and planting bombs along the border that target its soldiers. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Writing by Ori Lewis in Jerusalem; Editing by Michael Winfrey)

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