Israel struck Hamas in Gaza with tanks and aircrafts
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JERUSALEM - Israel on Friday struck Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip with tank and aircraft fire after troops were shot at on the Israeli side of the border, the army said.
The Israeli military said in a statement that "no injuries to soldiers were reported" after its troops came under fire.
Palestinian security sources in Hamas-ruled Gaza told AFP that the Israeli strikes hit Hamas military observation posts at three locations along the frontier.
They said there were no reports of Palestinian casualties.
Palestinians in Gaza have for more than a year gathered at least weekly along the border for often-violent protests, calling on Israel to end its blockade of the enclave.
The Israeli statement did not say if there were mass protests taking place at the time of Friday’s incident.
The Palestinian health ministry in Gaza later said in a statement that 15 people were wounded by Israeli fire during border demonstrations, including "two paramedics and one journalist".
It gave no further information.
At least 264 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli forces since the protests began.
The majority were killed during clashes, with others hit by tank fire or air strikes.
Two Israeli soldiers have been killed over the same period.
Hamas on Friday called on the UN to speed up a plan to funnel Qatari aid into the Palestinian enclave, part of an Egyptian-brokered truce with Israel.
After a severe flare-up between Israel and Hamas last month the ceasefire was hammered out amid fears of escalation.
Hamas said the truce would see Israel ease its crippling blockade of the strip in exchange for quiet.
Israel has not publicly commented on the reported agreement. APP/AFP
