The Israeli Air Force has struck at least 25 more targets in Gaza strip in retaliation to the cross-border fire and shelling by Hamas which targeted Israeli border communities throughout the day.

“IDF forces attacked 25 terrorist targets of the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip,” Israeli military said in a statement on Tuesday evening. The list of targets included alleged facilities manufacturing rocket launchers, rocket engines and advanced naval weapons, the IDF said. In addition, the Israeli forces targeted military compounds and training camps.

Moments ago, IAF fighter jets, attack helicopters, and aircraft struck 25 military targets belonging to the Hamas terror organization in the Gaza Strip — IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) May 29, 2018

Israeli actions came in response to an increased wave of attacks blamed on Hamas, “which bears responsibility for all events in the Gaza Strip,” the IDF said. The military noted that they will continue to decisively respond with a “wide range of tools” against Hamas actions that threaten Israeli citizens.

The Hamas terror organization again chooses to act against the interest of the residents of the Gaza Strip. After it failed during the violent riots along the security fence, it now chooses to conduct and allow a wide-scale attack against Israeli civilians — IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) May 29, 2018

“The IDF is prepared for a variety of scenarios and is determined to act against terrorist operatives and will continue to carry out its mission to protect the citizens of Israel,” the statement said.

At least four Israelis, three soldiers and a civilian, were wounded by shrapnel as over 70 mortar shells and rockets were launched at southern Israel on Tuesday, according to the IDF. A large number of projectiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system, while sirens continue to disturb Israeli settlements bordering the Gaza Strip.

Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror organizations commited acts of terrorism against Israel throughout the day pic.twitter.com/LjqzOrur92 — IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) May 29, 2018

Responding to attacks by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad groups, Israeli forces destroyed an underground attack tunnel and thwarted a naval blockade breach attempt, the army said earlier on Tuesday.

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Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups said that “bombings will be met with bombings and blood with blood,” and called the increased wave of attacks a “response to the Zionist aggression and the crimes against our people and the members of the resistance.”

While Islamic Jihad spokesman claimed that a “ceasefire agreement was reached with Israel to return to calm,” with the help of Egypt, Israelis denied that a deal had been reached, and continued to respond with force to the ongoing cross-border fire.

Amid the rise of hostilities, the Palestinian Authority demanded an “urgent international intervention to stop the Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip.”

Meanwhile the US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley called an emergency Security Council session, which will likely address tensions on Wednesday afternoon.

“The Security Council should be outraged and respond to this latest bout of violence directed at innocent Israeli civilians, and the Palestinian leadership needs to be held accountable for what they’re allowing to happen in Gaza,” Haley said in a statement.

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