In a statement, the military said Israeli troops in southern Gaza "identified several armed suspects who posed a threat" and "operated to thwart the threat and eliminate" a militant from Hamas ally Islamic Jihad.

It also said that in several areas of the Gaza Strip, its soldiers "fired warning shots" towards "masked suspects" approaching Israeli troops.

The military added it was abiding by the terms of the ceasefire that began on Sunday.

"The (Israeli military) is determined to fully maintain the terms of the agreement in order to return the hostages", it said.

As part of the first phase of the ceasefire, which is intended to last 42 days, Israeli forces are withdrawing from densely populated areas in the Gaza Strip.

The military warned Palestinians to "avoid approaching the troops".