JERUSALEM (AP) – Palestinian attackers killed three Israelis and wounded two others early Friday after infiltrating a Jewish settlement in Gaza, Israeli officials said.

The militants opened fire after sneaking into the Netzarim settlement, the officials said. Israel Radio said that they crossed the exterior fence but did not enter the settlement itself. The two wounded Israelis were flown by helicopter to a hospital in Beersheba, the radio report said. One was in serious condition and the other lightly wounded.

The Israeli officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they didn’t know if the infiltrators were killed or escaped. The victims’ identities weren’t immediately available.

Israel Radio said two Palestinians carried out the attack and that heavy fog aided the infiltrators and hampered soldiers searching for them.

Netzarim is an isolated Israeli settlement southwest of Gaza City. It is heavily guarded by Israeli soldiers. In the past, it has been the target of many infiltration attempts by Palestinian militants. About 7,000 Israelis live in Jewish settlements in Gaza, amid about 1 million Palestinians.

The attack came hours after three Israelis were wounded in another Palestinian shooting attack in the Gaza area, according to settlers and rescue services. The Palestinian gunman was killed, settlers said.

The militant group Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for Thursday night’s attack.

The shootings took place on a road near the Kissufim crossing point between Gaza and Israel, a route used by Israeli settlers to reach their homes in a bloc of Jewish settlements in southern Gaza.

The settlers’ spokesman said the three Israelis were not seriously wounded.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment.

AP-ES-10-23-03 2341EDT