Israel bombards Gaza after barrage of mortars fired at southern Israel

Israel has bombed the besieged Gaza Strip near the border after Palestinian militants fired a barrage of mortar shells at southern Israel, the WAFA news agency has reported.

The state-run agency said that Israeli artillery bombed on Tuesday morning sites and agricultural lands to the east of Gaza City, causing severe damage but no injuries.

The report said Israeli artillery fired at least ten shells at different locations.

Palestinian security sources said Israeli tanks struck observation points belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

A statement from the Israeli army said that "25 mortar shells were launched towards several sites in Israeli territory".

"Most of the launches were intercepted by the IDF's Iron Dome aerial defence system," the army said.

It appeared to be the largest projectile barrage from Gaza targeting Israel since a 2014 war.

The exchange of fire caused no injuries on either side.

The incident follows Israeli massacres of Palestinian protesters along the Gaza border on March 30.

They peaked on May 14, when at least 61 Palestinians were killed as tens of thousands of Gazans protested on the same day of the US transfer of its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

At least 116 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire and more than 10,000 have been injured since mass demonstrations began on March 30.

No Israelis have been killed and only a few soldiers have suffered minor injuries.

The protests - dubbed "Great Return March" - have centred on the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes, after they were expelled following the 1948 creation of Israel.

Israel has been condemned globally for its use of deadly force against the protesters.

The UN Human Rights Council has voted to send a team of international war crimes investigators to probe the deadly shootings.