Hamas militant killed in Gaza shelling: medics

GAZA (Reuters) - A Hamas militant was killed by Israeli shelling in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, Palestinian medical workers and Hamas said.

The Hamas Islamist group said a second militant was wounded by the shelling into Gaza City. Palestinian medical workers said three civilians were also wounded.

An Israeli army spokesman said there had been an attack on militants near the border with Israel.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak told ministers on Sunday he had authorized military action in Gaza, including the targeting of "manned military Hamas targets". Barak said Israel had killed 22 militants in attacks in the past week.

The Israeli army frequently carries out attacks against militants in the coastal territory to try 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 Ari Rabinovitch, Editing by Matthew Tostevin)