Gaza City - A Hamas militant was killed Thursday morning when a bomb he had been attempting to plant near the Gaza Strip border with Israel exploded prematurely, witnesses said.

Medical officials said the body of Mohammed al-Ar'ir, 19, was brought to Gaza City's Shifa hospital, with apparent shrapnel wounds in most of his body, at 7:45 am (0445 GMT).

A statement issued by Hamas' armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, said one of its fighters was "martyred while on a mission east of Gaza City." It did not elaborate.

Al-Ar'ir's death brings to 15 the number of militants killed since a new wave of violence hit the Hamas-controlled territory on November 4.

During this period, armed Palestinian groups have resumed rocket attacks at southern Israel, while Israel has slapped a near-total closure on the strip, refusing to allow in even journalists or diplomats.

The latest violence has rocked an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that held for five months. (dpa)