Israel's latest airstrikes on the Gaza Strip are intended at provoking Palestinian resistance into a new war, Islamic Jihad claimed on Saturday, according to the Palestinian Maan news agency.
"The latest Israeli military escalation on Gaza comes within ongoing attempts by the occupation to provoke the resistance by dragging it into a military confrontation," Al-Quds Brigades spokesman Ahmad said in a statement, DPA reported.
The comments came after four Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Friday. Three three Palestinians died and at least four were wounded. The strikes were in response to the launch of 14 mortar shells fired into Israel by the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC).
Islamic Jihad said it was ready to confront any new Israeli attack in Gaza. "The occupation's attempts will fail in weakening the spirit of resistance", the spokesman added,
Violence between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip has lately increased.
Some 280 rockets and mortars have been fired at Israel since the end of last winter's war, compared to more than 3,300 in the year building up to it, according to the Israeli military.
Israel has responded to the ongoing sporadic fire by launching what it says are pinpointed airstrikes, mostly on the smuggling tunnels along the border with Egypt.
The Israeli military vowed on Friday that it would continue to respond to any attempt by militants "to disrupt the calm in Israel's southern communities."