Israel and Hamas confirm clash took place on Gaza beach overnight

Israel and Hamas have confirmed that a clash between their forces took place on a Gaza beach in the early hours of Friday.

Israeli forces raided the southern part of the coastal enclave by sea, and local media reported that exchanges of fire were heard late on Thursday. 

Hamas' armed wing the al-Qassam Brigades said Israeli troops carried out a naval reconnaissance landing operation on the Rafah beach south of the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian group claimed its fighters detected the Israeli soldiers and forced them to retreat and leave behind ammunition after an exchange of fire. 

The Israeli army said in a statement that members of the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit carried out a raid in southern Gaza and that it hit Hamas infrastructure. It added that all troops left after the operation ended. 

There were no immediate reports of casualties. 

Middle East Eye could not independently verify either version of the clash.