Israel strikes Hamas sites in Gaza targeting naval base

The aircraft sorties over the Gaza strip followed rocket attacks on southern Israel

epa08049516 Palestinian protesters during the clashes after Friday protests near the border between Israel and eastern Gaza Strip, 06 December 2019. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER

Israel carried out bombing missions over Gaza in the early hours of Sunday morning targeting Hamas military camps and a naval base.

The Israeli military said in a statement that it had carried out the sorties. There were not any immediate reports of casualties.

The attack came hours after three rockets were fired from Gaza towards the south of Israel.

Israel has said its air defence system, the Iron Dome, had successfully intercepted two of the three missiles on Saturday evening. All three of the rockets were reportedly shot down before they reached their targets.

Tit-for-tat attacks between Israel and the armed groups in Gaza have become a regular and frequent occurrence.

In November, tensions flared to a peak not seen for months after Israel killed a senior militant in the Gaza Strip, hundreds of rockets were launched at Israel in response.

Israeli retaliatory strikes killed at least 34 Palestinians, including 16 civilians.

On November 27 The Israeli Air Force struck targets in southern Gaza following earlier rocket interceptions. The jets struck Hamas targets in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, local media reported.

At the time Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Israel would respond firmly to any attack against us and continue to maintain Israel's security on all fronts.

The incidents threaten a fragile ceasefire brokered by neighbouring Egypt. Unofficial ceasefires have led to  relative calm between Israel and Hamas, the militant group ruling Gaza.

Leaders from Hamas and the smaller but more radical Islamic Jihad are in Cairo, talking with Egyptian officials about cementing a cease-fire that would see some economic incentives and easing of restrictions on Gaza.
Hamas has fought three wars with Israel since seizing Gaza in 2007 and dozens of shorter skirmishes.