Witnesses said that about 20 civilians were collecting stones in the area when an Israeli undercover unit infiltrated there and arrested them. However, they later released detainees less than 16 years of age and kept the rest.

In the recent days, Israel escalated its aerial and ground attacks against the Gaza Strip in retaliation for rockets fired into Israel.

An Israeli aircraft early on Wednesday fired two missiles at a group of local militants in northern Gaza but the gunmen escaped the raid, medical sources said.

The sources said that an Israeli combat helicopter fired two missiles toward a group of fighters operating near the Schools Area, to the east of Jabliya refugee camp but the group escaped the attack.

Two residents were wounded during the air raid. The Israeli Army said that the air raid targeted a storage facility for weapons and explosives in the area.