The jets hit two sites, one in the southern town of Khan Yunis and another near Nusseirat in the centre of the Hamas territory, security officials said.

The Israeli military said its aircraft "targeted a number of Hamas hubs. in response to recent rocket fire into Israel."

The air raids came after tensions rose along the Israel, Gaza border this week following clashes and a rocket attack on the Israeli city of Beersheba that hit a house but caused no casualties.