Twisted metal and debris -- all that remains of this car in Rafah, a town in Gaza near the border with Egypt.

Israel's military launched an air strike on the vehicle late on Wednesday, killing two Hamas security officials, according to the Islamist group which rules the Gaza Strip.

Israel said it targeted what it called "terrorist operatives" involved in smuggling explosives into Gaza from Egypt, and in ferrying suicide bombers across the frontier.

But Hamas accused Israel of having "assassinated" the two men, whose job, they say, was to oversee tunnels used to bring goods to and from Gaza.

Hamas has for months stepped back from violent attacks on Israel, with other Iranian-backed groups increasing attacks.

The Jewish state, though, holds Hamas responsible for security in the territory.