The Israel Air Force struck smuggling tunnels along the Gaza-Egypt border early Wednesday, a few hours after Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired two Qassam rockets into the western Negev, Israeli Haaretz reported
The strike was in response to the rocket fire and shots fired by Gaza militants at Israel Defense Forces soldiers along the border fence, Israel Radio reported.
The rocket attacks caused neither caused casualties nor property damage, according to Army Radio. The first reportedly struck in the Eshkol region, and the second hit an open field north of Gaza.
Earlier in the day, Palestinians opened fire on IDF soldiers along the security fence near central Gaza, Army Radio said. In this incident too, no one was reportedly wounded.
Tuesday's cross-border attacks came as the total number of security incidents along Israel's border with Gaza increased in September, especially the number of attempted infiltrations into Israel and light-weapons fire at IDF soldiers and at workers on the security fence.
Sources in the army say that the increase is small and does not reflect a change in the policy of Hamas, which still wants continued quiet following the blow it received last January in Israel's 3-week offensive, Operation Cast Lead.
The incidents on Tuesday and Wednesday were the latest breaches of a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas that ended the hostilities.
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