Israeli airstrikes target Gaza after rocket fire

Israel launched airstrikes on Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip early on Tuesday in response to rocket fire from the besieged coastal enclave hours before, officials said.

The aircraft targeted a "military compound belonging to the terrorist organisation Hamas," a statement from the Israeli army read.

Palestinian security sources said the strikes were in Khan Younes in the south and Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, causing damage but no casualties.

On Monday night, a rocket hit a town in southern Israel, causing no damage or casualties.

Palestinian fighters in Gaza have fired more than a dozen rockets or mortar rounds at Israel in violence that erupted after US President Donald Trump's controversial December 6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The rockets are often fired by fringe Islamist groups, but Israel holds Gaza's rulers Hamas responsible for any attacks from the territory and has repeatedly retaliated, targeting Hamas positions.

On Friday, Israeli tanks and aircraft hit the Gaza Strip after rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave targeted a southern community. Eleven Palestinians have been killed so far in clashes with Israeli troops since Trump's announcement.

Israel regards Jerusalem as its "undivided" capital, a position nearly the entire world rejects saying its status should be determined in peace talks with the Palestinians.

Under international law East Jerusalem is considered occupied Palestinian territory.