Militants in Gaza Strip launch heavy barrage across border, Israel hits back with airstrikes

Jerusalem, May 29: Israeli jets bombed Gaza hours after militants from the territory on Tuesday fired more than 25 mortar shells toward communities in southern Israel in what appeared to be the largest single barrage since the 2014 IsraelHamas war.

The Israeli military said no one was hurt and that most of the mortar shells were intercepted by the Iron Dome defence system, though one of the shells landed near a kindergarten shortly before it opened.

The high volume of projectiles came as tensions have been running high along the Israel- Gaza border and a fierce Israeli response was expected.

“Israel will exact a heavy price from those who seek to harm it and we see Hamas as responsible for preventing such attacks,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said following the barrage.

Shortly after that warning, Israeli jets began dropping bombs at what security officials in Gaza called Islamic Jihad militant training site.

Smoke was seen rising near the town of Deir alBalah in the coastal strip and the Israeli military said the explosions there were related to its activity. No injuries were reported.

Islamic Jihad was believed to be behind the attacks with a green light from Hamas, the militant Islamic group that runs the Gaza Strip.

“We are sticking to the right of return as well as responding to the Zionist crimes,” said Khaled alBatsh, an Islamic Jihad leader in Gaza.

Defence minister Avigdor Lieberman said he was convening the top military brass at his Tel Aviv headquarters to discuss the situation.

The border area has been tense in recent weeks as the Palestinians have held mass protests aimed at lifting a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt after Hamas seized power in 2007.

Israeli fire has killed more than 110 Palestinians, most of them during the Hamasled protests, which climaxed on May 14.