Local sources reported seeing shells landing randomly, close to the Khan Younis camp in southern Israel, causing widespread panic among the local population.

No injuries were reported as the majority of the shells hit empty land.

No official reason was given for the shelling, but it is believed to be related to a rocket attack that came out of the Khan Yousif camp on Thursday night. The homemade rocket failed to reach Israeli territory and alert sirens were not sounded.

Israel frequently launches attacks on Gaza territory, especially against Hamas military positions, in response to amateur rocket attacks.

It is believed that the majority of these rockets are created by militants in Gaza with affiliations to Islamic State group in Sinai.



Read more: The radicalised youths in Gaza who see Hamas as too moderate.

"These are not rockets that are being smuggled in from Sinai," says Diaa Kahlout, The New Arab's correspondent in Gaza City.

"They are locally manufactured, weak weapons - their strikes do not affect Israel in any meaningful way."