Occupied Jerusalem: Israeli aircraft launched at least three attacks on Palestinians on Tuesday, killing four including a 13-year-old boy, medical officials in the Gaza Strip said.

Despite the violence, Israeli defense officials said that an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire could take effect in the coming days.

Israel's military confirmed the airstrikes, saying in the first raid that aircraft fired at a group of Palestinians launching rockets in northern Gaza. Palestinian doctors said a boy, 13, was decapitated and another youth was seriously injured. A witness said he saw a mobile rocket-launching stand in the area.

In the second strike, the aircraft fired at Palestinians who were planting explosives along the fence in central Gaza, the military said. Palestinian doctors said one man, 32, was killed. His identity was not immediately known.

Hamas said two of its fighters were killed and one wounded in a third Israeli attack, on the south side of Gaza City. The Israeli military said that its aircraft struck at a group of armed men in that area.