Three Britons taken hostage in southern Gaza by Palestinian militants have been freed, the Sky news reported on Friday.

Aid worker Kate Burton and her parents were in good health, Palestinian mediator Kamal Sharafi was quoted as saying, but he was unable to give any other details.

On Wednesday, Burton, 24, was seized by unknown gunmen in Rafah with her parents Hugh and Helen, who were visiting her.

There have been widespread calls for them to be freed - backed even by militant groups like Hamas and the al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade.

The police chief in Gaza, Alaa Housni, said earlier the security services knew nothing about the kidnappers and there had been no word from them.

He promised to deal resolutely with them if necessary. "We will get them. If we have to use force we will," he said.

However, a spokesman for British Foreign Office told Xinhua that the reports that three British hostages have been released were not yet confirmed yet, and it is still under investigation.

Source: Xinhua