A Hamas spokesman says four Palestinian militants who were killed crossing the Gaza perimeter fence were engaging in "an individual act," stressing that the operation was not planned by Hamas.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media that Abdel-Latif al-Qanou said Saturday that the attempted infiltration was carried out by "angry youths" who were reacting to Israel's 12-year blockade of Gaza.

"The occupation is responsible for the state of anger and pressure inflicted on our people due to the continued siege on Gaza," he said in a statement.

Earlier, Israeli army spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said Israel holds Gaza's ruling Hamas authorities "responsible and accountable for any acts of violence emanating from the Gaza Strip," regardless of whether Hamas ordered the attack.

Israel and Hamas reached an informal cease-fire in May, following the worst bout of fighting since a 2014 war between them.

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