GAZA, Jan 11 (Reuters) - An Israeli missile strike killed two Hamas gunmen in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday, Palestinian hospital officials said, but Israel denied mounting any military action in the area.

Hamas, the ruling Palestinian Islamist faction, said three of its gunmen died in the explosion near the town of Beit Hanoun, and blamed an Israeli attack. But hospital officials said one of the casualties was severely hurt rather than killed.

An Israeli military spokesman said: There were no actions by our forces in the area.

The last week has seen a flare-up of violence in Gaza, where Israel waged a three-week war a year ago. Israel said Palestinian militants other than Hamas were responsible for the recent rash of cross-border rocket and mortar attacks, and urged Hamas to rein them in.

An Israeli security source said Israel was aware that a blast had taken place near Beit Hanoun. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Writing by Dan Williams, Editing by Jon Boyle)