JERUSALEM, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military attacked a Hamas post in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, killing two militants, Israeli officials and media said.

A military spokesperson said in a statement that the attack was a retaliation for an earlier gunfire that was shot at soldiers near the northern Gaza Strip, without causing injuries.

"In response, an IDF (Israel Defence Forces) tank targeted the post from which the shots were fired," the statement read, adding that the post belongs to Hamas, an Islamist Palestinian group that runs Gaza.

"The IDF is prepared to target any aggression against Israel and holds Hamas responsible for everything happening in and from the Gaza Strip," the spokesperson said.

The incident came after Egyptian-brokered talk to achieve cease-fire between Israel and Hamas reached an impasse.

The recent round of violence has cost the lives of at least 140 Palestinians and an Israeli soldier.