Israeli warplanes bombed the Gaza Strip in three locations early on Thursday, reports said.

Thursday's air strikes occurred at a time when reports both in Israel and the Gaza Strip have suggested that a prisoner swap deal between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza could be nearing that would involve the freeing of Palestinians in Israel jails in return of Shalit.

Israel's Gaza offensive killed nearly 1500 Palestinians last December.

Gaza officials said the attack wounded three people.

An Israeli army spokeswoman admitted the attacks against what they claimed "weapons manufacturing facility" in the southern Gaza Strip and "two tunnels" in the Rafah border area.

Gaza is still considered under Israeli occupation as Israel controls air, sea and land access to the Strip.

The Rafah crossing with Egypt, Gaza's sole border crossing that bypasses Israel, rarely opens as Egypt is under immense US and Israeli pressure to keep the crossing shut.


Agencies