Israel says senior Hamas member seized as strikes kill three during Gaza raid

Israel's defence minister says a senior member of the Palestinian armed group Hamas has been captured.

Israel Katz was speaking after reports of a raid by Israeli special forces and an Israel-backed Palestinian militia in Gaza City.

Israeli air strikes at the same time killed at least two children and a woman, local medics say.

A third child was killed in a separate incident in central Gaza.

The Israeli defence minister did not say who had captured the Hamas commander, whom he did not identify.

But after meeting Israelis living in Netiv HaAsara, next to northern Gaza, Katz said the activity of Israeli forces in the territory "continues at all times".

"A short time ago, a senior Hamas terrorist was arrested – and this is our policy: we do not wait for threats, but pursue Hamas terrorists, thwart them and destroy their terror infrastructures," he added.

Earlier, Palestinians in a crowded part of western Gaza City had reported a heavy Israeli bombardment, with two vehicles hit and turned to wreckage.