Two Islamic Jihad operatives were wounded by Palestinian Authority security forces in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian sources.

A security source said the PA officers responded to the operatives’ fire and wounded two of them.  The wounds were described as minor.

The Islamic Jihad operatives were prevented from passing through the checkpoint the security forces were guarding, the source added.

Islamic Jihad spokesperson denied initiating the shooting, saying its operatives left the scene to avoid further escalation.

On the other hand, the Palestinian Minster of Interior Nasser Yousef on Wednesday cautioned Israel against targeting Islamic Jihad leaders, saying this will take us back to square one and to the same cycle of violence and counter-violence.

Yousef’s comments followed an Israeli government statement that political as well as leaders of Islamic Jihad would be targeted.