Israeli aircrafts on Saturday evening struck several Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip in response to incendiary balloons launched into Israel earlier.
The IDF's Spokesperson's Unit said that fighter jets attacked a weapons manufacturing facility and a rocket launching site in the Hamas-controlled enclave.
Local authorities in the Eshkol Regional Council, which borders Gaza, said at least one fire broke out on Saturday afternoon in the area. An investigator from the Fire and Rescue Services determined the fire was caused by an incendiary balloon.
Since a May 21 ceasefire ended 11 days of Israel-Hamas fighting, Palestinians in Gaza have sporadically launched balloons laden with incendiary material across the border, causing fires that have burned fields in Israel.
On Thursday and Friday, several fires broke out in Israeli communities that border Gaza due to renewed incendiary balloon attacks.
In response, Israeli aircraft bombed a Hamas site in Gaza Strip overnight Friday as well.
Hamas confirmed one of its sites had been struck. In this strike, Israel's military said it had hit a Hamas weapons manufacturing site. There were no reports of casualties.
Palestinians say the balloons aim to pressure Israel to ease restrictions on the coastal enclave that were tightened during the May fighting.
Balloon launches had ebbed after Israel eased some restrictions on Gaza last week. But on Thursday, balloons were again launched from Gaza, causing at least four brush fires near Israeli cities along the border.
"In response to the arson balloon fire towards Israeli territory today IDF (Israeli military) fighter jets struck (a) weapons manufacturing site belonging (to) Hamas," the military said in a statement on Friday evening.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called the Israeli strikes a "showy reaction" and said Palestinians were "putting pressure on (Israel), forcing it to respect the rights of our people and to walk back its unjust positions."
Egypt and the United Nations have stepped up mediation efforts over the Israeli strikes and Gaza balloon launches, though the incidents have not led to a broader escalation.
First published: 18:29, 07.03.21