Israeli warplanes bombed the Gaza Strip last night as Palestinians fired rockets from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel and released explosive balloons that started fires, the Israeli military said.
The latest exchange of fire came as Israeli President Reuven Rivlin warned Hamas, which rules Gaza, of the risk of war breaking out if it does not stop such incidents, France Press reported.
During the past 12 days, due to the release of incendiary balloons that caused over 100 fires in Israeli territory and rocket attacks, Israel responded with airstrikes and increased blockade of the Palestinian enclave.
Late last night before midnight, Israel responded with attacks on "Hamas targets" and a "military complex of the Hamas terrorist organization" was hit, the military statement said, and there were no reports of casualties.
Israeli firefighters said the balloons started 40 fires in southern Israel on Tuesday.
"Using kites and balloons is a form of terrorism like any other," said President Rivlin, whose role in the country's political life is largely ceremonial.
During his visit to the firefighters in the border area, he assessed that "Hamas should know that this is not a game" and that "the time will come when they will have to decide, if they want war, they will have war."
Hamas and Israel have gone to war three times since 2008, with occasional minor clashes despite a ceasefire brokered by the UN, Egypt and Qatar in 2019.
Yesterday's exchange of fire was preceded by a visit by an Egyptian delegation that mediates between Israelis and Palestinians to end the attacks.
Officials in Gaza said yesterday that the Palestinian territory's only power plant was shutting down after Israel cut off fuel deliveries through the Kerem Shalom cargo crossing last week as punishment for rocket and incendiary balloon attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that the Jewish state will respond to the release of balloons in the same way it responds to rocket fire and warned of the danger of another major conflict.
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