Israeli forces struck Hamas in Gaza strip after border fire

Israeli forces struck Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip on Thursday after soldiers were fired at along the border, the Israeli army said.

It is the second time in a week Israel has struck the coastal territory, governed by the Islamist movement Hamas with which Israel has fought three wars since 2008.

“Shots were fired at (Israeli) forces carrying out routine activities on the border with the Gaza Strip,” the army said in a statement.

It said aircraft and a tank targeted two Hamas posts in the Strip in response.

A source in the Hamas-run Gaza security services confirmed the strikes hit a lookout post in northern Gaza without causing injuries.

On Monday Israeli aircraft and tanks struck Hamas targets, wounding four, after a rocket fired from Gaza landed in southern Israel.

Rocket fire into Israel is often attributed to smaller hardline Islamist movements who oppose Hamas.

Israel, however, holds Hamas responsible for all rocket fire as it controls the territory.

On February 16, Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman warned Gaza’s Hamas rulers that he would respond harshly to their “provocation” in future.