Israeli fighter pilots and ground troops were busy in Gaza late Tuesday night for the first time since since the temporary truce with Hamas terrorists who control the region began on June 19.

Israel Air Force pilots struck two terrorist cells in southern Gaza that were preparing to launch mortar shells at Israel late Tuesday night. In the first strike, at least four Arab terrorists were killed and several others were wounded, according to local sources. Shortly after, a second cell was hit in a similar IAF strike. The IDF confirmed the hit. 

IDF troops killed one terrorist and wounded two others a couple of hours earlier in central Gaza while trying to destroy a tunnel intended to be used by terrorists while kidnapping soldiers. Palestinian Authority sources said the operation was carried out at the home of the Abu Hamam family. 

A senior IDF official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the tunnel had been dug from inside a Gaza home, underscoring the terrorists' use of civilians as 'human shields.'

IDF troops operated under fire as they worked to destroy the tunnel. PA sources reported that one Hamas terrorist was killed during the clash, and three others were wounded. They added that residents in al-Bureij in central Gaza had reported seeing IDF soldiers about 300 meters inside Gaza, and hearing the buzz of unmanned drones flying overhead. They also said they heard shots coming from Israeli military vehicles on the other side of the Gaza security barrier.

According to local sources, Hamas terrorists opened fire in the direction of the shots they heard, and one of the unmanned drones fired a missile into the area from where the terrorists had fired their weapons. PA medical personnel said three terrorists were wounded by shrapnel.

Terrorists attacked the Kissufim Crossing also on Tuesday night, firing six mortar shells from central Gaza. No one in Israel was injured and no damage was reported.

Abu Obaid, spokesman for Hamas's military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement following Tuesday night's clash that the terror group would "fend off" the IDF operation. The terrorist group's website also carried a statement that vowed its "response will be harsh, and the enemy will pay a heavy price."

Tuesday night's mortar attack on Israel comes on the heels of several others, primarily Kassam rocket launchings, that have emanated from Gaza as recently as last week. Each time, Defense Minister Ehud Barak retaliated by ordering the Gaza crossings closed for a day. 

There have been dozens of Kassam rockets launched from Gaza since the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire went into effect, despite Hamas's agreement to halt the attacks in exchange for an IDFwithdrawal from the area and the government's agreement to open the crossings.