Israel hits dozens of Gaza targets after mortar barrage

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories (AFP) – Israel said it hit dozens of military targets in Gaza on Tuesday in response to a barrage of mortar and rocket fire from the strip's Islamist rulers Hamas and allies Islamic Jihad, in the worst flare-up since a 2014 war.

Late Tuesday a spokesman for Jihad said a ceasefire agreement had been reached to restore calm, though the Israeli army declined to comment on the claim.

Explosions continued until late Tuesday, with the Israeli army reporting sirens being triggered in a number of locations near the border.

Tuesday's exchange of fire came after weeks of deadly unrest along the border between Israel and the blockaded Palestinian enclave.

Three Israeli soldiers were wounded by projectiles fired from Gaza, one moderately and two lightly, said the army. There were no immediate reports of any casualties in the strip.

In a rare joint statement, Hamas and Islamic Jihad declared shared responsibility for the attacks, saying it was in retaliation for Israeli attacks targeting their positions.

Three members of Islamic Jihad were killed in an Israeli strike on Sunday, with the group vowing revenge.

Later Jihad spokesman Dawoud Shihab said an Egyptianbrokered agreement had been reached to return calm.

The Israeli army declined to comment.

Early Tuesday, some 28 mortar shells were fired toward Israel from the Gaza Strip, with Israel saying most were intercepted by its air defense systems but leaving residents in the area on high alert and remaining close to bomb shelters.

One mortar shell exploded near a kindergarten building, a military spokesman said, causing damage to the structure. No children were present at the time.

It was the largest barrage fired from Gaza targeting Israel since a 2014 war, and Israel's response would also be the biggest since then.