JERUSALEM - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) said in a joint statement Thursday that they are investigating whether one of the three militants killed by the army in the Gaza Strip is Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

During IDF operations in the Gaza Strip, three "terrorists" were eliminated, the statement stated, adding the IDF and ISA are investigating whether one of them was Sinwar.

"At this stage, the identity of the terrorists cannot be confirmed," it added.

The statement also noted that "in the building where the three were eliminated, there were no signs of the presence of Israeli hostages in the area".

Israel's state-owned Kan TV news quoted an Israeli official as saying that Sinwar is believed to have been killed.