Israel hits Hamas position in response to explosion

Israel's military targeted a Hamas observation post today after an explosive device detonated near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, the military said.

The explosion occurred in the northern Gaza Strip near Israel's border fence, the army said in a statement, with no casualties reported.

"In response, IDF (Israel Defence Forces) tanks targeted a military observation post belonging to the Hamas terror organisation," the army said on Twitter.

According to Palestinian sources, the retaliatory fire slightly injured one person.

Two explosive devices were detonated Thursday along the border, provoking Israeli attacks on Hamas positions.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blasts, but Israel held Hamas responsible as the de facto power in the Palestinian enclave.

Israel, Hamas and its allies are observing a ceasefire since the 2014 war, the third in the enclave in six years.

The truce is regularly shaken, particularly by fire from the enclave into Israel, which systematically retaliates by targeting Hamas positions, even if the attacks are carried out by other groups.

On February 17, four Israeli soldiers were wounded by an improvised explosive device on the border, sparking intense military retaliation.

Israel warplanes attacked 18 "terror targets belonging to Hamas" in Gaza in response to the blast, which severely wounded two of the soldiers, and a subsequent Palestinian rocket attack on southern Israel.