Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Israel carried out strikes against militant bases in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday after a barrage of mortar fire from the Palestinian enclave further boosted tensions following weeks of deadly unrest.
Separately on Tuesday morning, Palestinians launched boats from Gaza to protest Israel's blockade of the strip in what they said would be a peaceful demonstration.
There were conflicting statements about whether the boats would seek to break Israel's blockade, which currently allows them to travel nine nautical miles (16 kilometres) off the coast.
The earlier firing of some 28 mortar shells toward Israel caused no injuries, with most intercepted by air defence systems, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed a forceful response.
One mortar shell exploded near a kindergarten building, a military spokesman said, causing damage to the structure.
It was the largest projectile barrage from Gaza targeting Israel since a 2014 war, according to Israel's Shin Bet internal security service.
"Israel takes a grave view of the attacks on it and its communities by Hamas and Islamic Jihad from the Gaza Strip," Netanyahu said. READ MORE
