The sources said that the man was killed when Israeli soldiers patrolling the border between Gaza and Israel opened fire in the victims direction.

Israeli warplanes also carried out six air strikes across the Gaza Strip resulted in wounding four people, among them three fighters from the Islamic Jihad movement.

The Israeli air sorties that began around midnight and ended at 5 a.m. Gaza local time on Thursday led to extensive damage to property. Two training grounds belonging to Al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of Hamas, were targeted in the attacks.

The bombardment came a few hours after two Grad rockets were fired from Gaza at Beer Sheva on Wednesday evening. One of the rockets hit a building in a residential area of the city, causing damage. No injuries were reported.

According to an Israeli army spokesman, the strikes against Gaza were part of the army's aim to move "determinately and forcefully against those who attempt to harm Israeli citizens."

It was not immediately clear who was behind the rocket firing on Israel, but it was believed to have been the armed wing of Islamic Jihad movement. One of its fighters was killed in a fierce clashes when the Israeli troops rolled into east of Gaza City on Wednesday. Thirteen Palestinians were also wounded during the Israeli incursion.