NEW DELHI: Israeli warplanes bombed Hamas sites in Gaza in response to incendiary balloons launched from the Palestinian enclave that caused brush fires in southern Israel.

The latest escalation of tension follows weekend border clashes in which dozens were injured.
The strikes were carried out in Khan Younes in the south and Jabalia in the north, however, there were no reports of any casualties.

Since an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire halted 11 days of Israel-Hamas fighting in May, Gaza militants have sporadically sent balloons laden with incendiary material into Israel, drawing Israeli strikes on Hamas facilities.

Palestinians say the balloons aim to pressure Israel to ease restrictions on Gaza and permit aid to reach the territory. Balloons launched Monday set off fires in Israeli fields along the Gaza border, Israel's Fire and Rescue Service said.

Israeli defence forces said the jets attacked "a Hamas weapons manufacturing site in Khan Yunis as well as terror tunnel entrance in Jabalia".

The IDF added that a "Hamas underground rocket launch site located adjacent to civilian homes and a school in Shejaiya, was also struck."
Reports claimed at least nine incendiary balloons were launched from Gaza. The latest development comes as Palestinian protesters tried to scale a wall near the Gaza border as Israeli troops opened fire over the weekend. A boy including an Israeli police official were injured in the clashes.

Reports said the Israeli Army had activated the Iron Dome anti-missile system after rockets were launched towards the country on Saturday which was the first rocket attack since the May ceasefire.

Israel and Hamas were involved in a 11-day conflict in May as Israeli jets pounded Gaza as the militant groups retaliated with thousands of rockets aimed at Israel as 250 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed.

Israel keeps Gaza under blockade, tightly restricting movement out of the territory that is home to 2 million Palestinians. Egypt also maintains restrictions on the enclave. Both cite threats from Hamas for the restrictions.