Two dead in Gaza missile attack

Tension has risen in Gaza since Israel began planning withdrawal

Palestinian hospital officials say a missile strike by Israeli army helicopters in the northern Gaza Strip has killed at least two Palestinians.

The attack took place near Beit Hanoun close to the Israeli border.

Israeli military sources are quoted as saying the helicopters had spotted Palestinian militants about to fire rockets into Israeli territory.

The attack comes a day after two missiles were fired into the Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.

There is no independent confirmation that the people killed were preparing a rocket attack.

Beit Hanoun is frequently used by Palestinian militants for cross-border rocket attacks.

The occupied Gaza Strip has seen an escalation of tension since Israel's prime minister said he would pull out Israeli troops and settlers by the end of 2005 as part of a disengagement plan.