A Palestinian health official says a man has been killed and three others wounded by Israeli gunfire in the Gaza Strip.

Health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Kidra said 22-year-old Odeh Hamad was shot in the head on Friday near the border between Gaza and Israel. Kidra said three civilians were wounded by Israeli fire in a separate incident near the border as they hunted for birds.

It was not immediately clear what sparked the shooting that killed Hamad, or why Israeli forces opened fire on the bird hunters. The Israeli military had no immediate comment.

Israel often fires warning shots to disperse Palestinians who approach its border.

Such shootings have been rare since Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers fought an eight-day battle last year.