Israeli aircraft have fired missiles against targets in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian security officials say the strikes overnight Saturday targeted a car in the central town of Deir al-Balah, and an area in northern Gaza.

Further details were not immediately available.

In other developments in Gaza, a previously unknown Palestinian group claimed responsibility for the abduction of an Egyptian diplomat.

News agencies say they received a statement Friday from a group calling itself the Al Ahrar Brigades demanding within 48 hours the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Egypt.

The authenticity of the statement could not be verified.

Palestinian officials say the diplomat, Hussam al-Musli, was traveling to the Egyptian diplomatic offices in Gaza City Thursday when masked gunmen surrounded his car and abducted him.

The Gaza Strip has seen a rash of kidnappings by Palestinian gunmen since Israel's pullout in September.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.