Pakistan, Sept. 2 -- An Israeli-backed raid to detain a Hamas fighter in Gaza City was uncovered during the operation on Tuesday, prompting airstrikes to cover the force's withdrawal that killed at least four Palestinians, including two children, Gaza officials said.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said a senior Hamas fighter had been detained, while Hamas official Ismail Al-Thawabta said an Israeli special force had tried to carry out an operation in Gaza City before being detected.

According to Thawabta, director of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, Israel then launched heavy airstrikes, killing and wounding several people.

An Israeli security official said the man detained is the head of Hamas' internal security servi...