The military says it opened fire Wednesday after the militants detonated a bomb targeting a passing Israeli patrol near the border and then fired mortars at the soldiers.

Gaza health officials say two of the wounded militants are in serious condition. Both Islamic Jihad and Hamas militants say they fired mortars at the troops.

No Israeli soldiers were hurt.

Israel and Hamas have largely observed an unofficial cease-fire since an Israeli military offensive in Gaza two years ago. But clashes sporadically flare up along the volatile border as Gaza militants fire rockets and mortars into Israel, drawing military reprisals.