The Israeli army said it targeted a number of Hamas structures in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday in response to what it said were explosives planted along the Israel-Gaza border.

This is the second Israeli strike in Gaza this week and comes during an especially tense time as tens of thousands of Palestinians are participating in protests along the Gaza border each weekend.

Authorities said since March 30, 32 Palestinians have died from Israeli fire.

No injuries were reported from the border explosives or the Israeli retaliation.

The army said Palestinians placed an explosive device along the border area and detonated it against an army engineering vehicle.

Israel said it “holds the Hamas terror organization responsible for all occurrences in the Gaza Strip, and will not allow the terror organisation to turn the area of the fence into a combat zone.”

Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, has not claimed responsibility for the alleged border explosives.</s>The Israeli military says it has struck several Hamas targets in Gaza after a bomb planted on the border exploded near Israeli troops.

 The military says the explosive device was placed along the border fence area during protests that have been taking place there. It exploded near an Israeli bulldozer on Wednesday.

 No one was wounded by the bomb, and there were no immediately reports on casualties from the retaliatory strikes.

 Israel says it holds Hamas responsible for all violence emanating from Gaza and will not allow the border area to become a combat zone.

 Hamas has called for Palestinians to amass at the border as part of a weekslong campaign of protests against a decade-old Israeli and Egyptian blockade of the territory.—Agencies</s>The Israeli Army on Wednesday targeted structures belonging to the Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip after an explosion went off near the border.

The Israeli Defense Forces said in a post to Twitter the bomb that exploded against an army engineering vehicle in the west of the Gaza-Israel border left no injuries.</s>GAZA, April 12 (Reuters) - An Israeli air strike killed a Hamas gunman and wounded one on Thursday, Palestinian medical officials said, as tensions across the Gaza Strip border simmered.

Israel said the strike was launched in response to a bomb attack on a military vehicle on the Gaza frontier on Wednesday, in which there were no casualties. When gunmen shot at the aircraft, they were fired upon, the Israeli military said.

Both sides are bracing for Palestinian demonstrations at the Gaza border on Friday - the third round of weekly protests that are scheduled to peak in mid-May, the 70th anniversary of Israel's founding, which Palestinians mourn.

The Israeli army has shot dead 30 of the Palestinian protesters, drawing international condemnation.

Israel deems the sometimes violent demonstrations an effort by Hamas, the Islamist group that exercises de facto control over Gaza, to stoke Palestinian hostility toward it and provide cover for potential attacks across the border fence. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi Writing by Dan Williams Editing by Robert Birsel)</s>GAZA (Reuters) - An Israeli air strike killed a Hamas gunman and wounded one on Thursday, Palestinian medical officials said, as tensions across the Gaza Strip border simmered.

Israel said the strike was launched in response to a bomb attack on a military vehicle on the Gaza frontier on Wednesday, in which there were no casualties. When gunmen shot at the aircraft, they were fired upon, the Israeli military said.

Both sides are bracing for Palestinian demonstrations at the Gaza border on Friday - the third round of weekly protests that are scheduled to peak in mid-May, the 70th anniversary of Israel’s founding, which Palestinians mourn.

The Israeli army has shot dead 30 of the Palestinian protesters, drawing international condemnation.

Israel deems the sometimes violent demonstrations an effort by Hamas, the Islamist group that exercises de facto control over Gaza, to stoke Palestinian hostility toward it and provide cover for potential attacks across the border fence.</s>Israeli fighter jets targeted a Hamas military compound in the northern Gaza Strip Wednesday night, according to the IDF Foreign Press Spokesperson's Unit.</s>JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says it has struck several Hamas targets in Gaza after a bomb planted on the border exploded near Israeli troops.

The military says the explosive device was placed along the border fence area during protests that have been taking place there. It exploded near an Israeli bulldozer on Wednesday.

No one was wounded by the bomb, and there were no immediately reports on casualties from the retaliatory strikes.

Israel says it holds Hamas responsible for all violence emanating from Gaza and will not allow the border area to become a combat zone.

Hamas has called for Palestinians to amass at the border as part of a weekslong campaign of protests against a decade-old Israeli and Egyptian blockade of the territory. Twenty-six protesters have been killed thus far.</s>An Israeli air strike killed a Hamas gunman and wounded one on Thursday, Palestinian medical officials said, as tensions across the Gaza Strip border simmered.

Israel said the strike was launched in response to a bomb attack on a military vehicle on the Gaza frontier on Wednesday, in which there were no casualties. When gunmen shot at the aircraft, they were fired upon, the Israeli military said.

Both sides are bracing for Palestinian demonstrations at the Gaza border on Friday – the third round of weekly protests that are scheduled to peak in mid-May, the 70th anniversary of Israel’s founding, which Palestinians mourn.

The Israeli army has shot dead 30 of the Palestinian protesters, drawing international condemnation.

Israel deems the sometimes violent demonstrations an effort by Hamas, the Islamist group that exercises de facto control over Gaza, to stoke Palestinian hostility toward it and provide cover for potential attacks across the border fence.</s>Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli fighter jets targeted a Hamas "military target" in northern Gaza on Monday in response to Palestinians infiltrating the border and laying bombs the previous day, the army said.

Palestinian security sources in Gaza said the Israeli strikes hit a base in Jabalia belonging to Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, and farmland near Beit Lahia, causing damage but no injuries.

The Israeli strike came a day after suspects crossed the northern Gaza border fence, leaving "explosive devices" that were found by the army.

The border fence between the Palestinian enclave and Israel has become the backdrop of mass Gaza demonstrations that lead to deadly clashes.

Israel has faced mounting questions over its use of live fire after 10 days of protests and clashes along the Gaza Strip border.

On Monday, the Gaza health ministry said Marwan Qudeih, 45, who was wounded by Israeli fire east of Khan Yunis on March 30, died of his wounds.

His death brings the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since then to 31.

Israel says it opens fire when necessary to stop damage to the border fence, infiltrations and attempted attacks.

It alleges Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip and with whom it has fought three wars since 2008, is seeking to use the protests as cover to carry out violence.

"The IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) views with great severity the Hamas terror organisation endeavours to turn the security fence parameter into a combat zone while attempting to damage security and defence infrastructure," the army said in its Monday statement.

Rights groups have harshly criticised Israeli soldiers' actions, and Palestinians say protesters are being shot while posing no threat to troops.

On Sunday, the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said she was opening a preliminary probe to determine whether there was enough evidence to launch a full-blown investigation into any alleged crimes committed by Israel or Hamas.</s>JERUSALEM (AP) - The Israeli military says it has struck several Hamas targets in Gaza after a bomb planted on the border exploded near Israeli troops.

The military says the explosive device was placed along the border fence area during protests that have been taking place there. It exploded near an Israeli bulldozer on Wednesday.

No one was wounded by the bomb, and there were no immediately reports on casualties from the retaliatory strikes.

Israel says it holds Hamas responsible for all violence emanating from Gaza and will not allow the border area to become a combat zone.

Hamas has called for Palestinians to amass at the border as part of a weekslong campaign of protests against a decade-old Israeli and Egyptian blockade of the territory. Twenty-six protesters have been killed thus far.
The Israeli Defence Forces say a bomb exploded near one of their construction vehicles near the Gazan border. In response, the IDF launches attacks on Hamas positions within the Gaza Strip.