A previously unheard-of Islamist group is believed to be behind the attack attempt against Israeli troops on Gaza borders on Monday, sources said.

Members of the Jond Allah, or the Knights of God, arrived at Abu Yousef al-Najjar hospital in southern Gaza Strip and identified two fighters who were killed in clashes with the Israeli army in eastern Gaza city on Monday morning, the sources said.

Witnesses at the hospital said the member of the group, whose clothes and long beards could tell they were Salafis, refused to talk to the media there.

Five Palestinians were killed as they tried to attack Israeli forces manning the borders between Israel and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip in eastern Gaza city early Monday.

Some of the attackers were on horseback, apparently trying to make their raid like the battles which prophet Mohammed led to spread Islam some 1,400 years ago.

An announcement at the website of the group said they oppose Palestinian and Arab's calls to send multinational forces to Gaza.

"They will find death and destruction from our side since they are enemies of Allah and his prophet," the announcement said about the forces.

Currently, the Gaza Strip is controlled by Hamas, a group classified as a terrorist organization by the United States for its long record in attacking Israel.

(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2009)