Israeli war jets strike Gaza

Israeli war jets struck southern Gaza early on Thursday, hours after Palestinian and Israeli bombing across the border of the besieged Palestinian enclave, the army said.

A military spokesperson said the operation targeted four "Hamas terrorist infrastructure sites." Palestinian eyewitnesses said the airstrike hit an area in the inoperative Gaza Airport east of Rafah town.

There were no reports of casualties.

Since Wednesday morning, Gaza militants have fired at least six mortar rounds toward soldiers at the border, with the last round being fired overnight.

The firing coincides with Israeli military activity to uncover cross-border Hamas tunnels. Gaza security officials said the shelling was aimed at soldiers and an army bulldozer that was digging into the ground underneath the border area between eastern Gaza city and Israel.

Israel retaliated with artillery shelling and airstrikes.

Late Wednesday, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov urged both side to avoid an escalation.

"I am concerned about the security incidents that have taken place along the border with Gaza over the past 24 hours," he said.

"I call upon all to exercise maximum restraint and to take all necessary action to prevent the risk of escalation," Mladenov said. "It is critical that peace be maintained to ensure the safety and security of Israelis and Palestinians, alike."

In 2014, Israel waged a large-scale military operation on Gaza that lasted 51 days, which left 2,200 Palestinians and more than 70 Israelis dead, in addition to destruction of houses and infrastructure in the enclave. Endit