Jerusalem, April 24 (IANS): The Israel Air Force struck a terror cell in the Gaza Strip Wednesday afternoon that was poised to fire rockets into southern Israel, the media reported.

Four people were reportedly wounded in the attack in the city of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, Palestinian media quoted medical officials in the Hamas-ruled territory as saying, according to Xinhua.

The Israeli military confirmed in a brief text message that it carried out a counter-terrorism operation with the assistance of Shin Bet, the internal security service, in northern Gaza.

The Jerusalem Post quoted security sources as saying that aircraft were scrambled after Shin Bet received intelligence information that militants were set to launch rockets, reportedly striking the crew minutes before the projectiles were fired.

The veracity of the reports could not be immediately confirmed. The attack came shortly after Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party officials announced a reconciliation deal in Gaza to establish a Palestinian unity government within six months.

On Monday, Israeli aircraft attacked several targets in northern and central Gaza in retaliation to 10 rockets that were fired into Israel.