Soldiers from the Shayetet naval commando unit on Saturday night raided a Gaza compound from which long-range rockets had been fired towards Israel.
Terrorists who were in the compound opened fire towards the soldiers, who returned fire. Four soldiers suffered light wounds and were taken to a hospital in Israel for treatment.
Three Hamas terrorists were reportedly killed in the raid, which according to the IDF was targeting long-range missile launchers of the type that have been directing fire towards major cities in central and even northern Israel.
"The IDF will continue to harm any element which uses terror against Israel," an IDF spokesperson vowed in a statement.
Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner was more specific.
"A naval commando operation took place on a beach in Gaza this morning with the aim of hitting a long-distance rocket launching site," he said, and added that the mission was successful.
Radio reports spoke of a fierce gun battle with Hamas terrorists in the Sudaniya district.
The raid on the compound came hours after Hamas terrorists fired a large salvo of rockets towards Tel Aviv and central Israel.
Five rockets fell in an uninhabited area between Yavneh and Rehovot, in west-central Israel. Two rockets were intercepted over Rehovot, another over Rishon LeZion, and a rocket aimed at the central coastal plain was intercepted over Ashdod. Shell fragments scattered in Ashdod and the residents have been warned not to touch them.
Southern Israel was targeted as well, and at least three rockets exploded in an open space in the Eshkol region, causing no damage or injury.
Meanwhile, the IDF has begun dropping leaflets on certain parts of Gaza, telling residents to leave their homes.
The move is being interpreted as a preparation for a possible ground offensive by the IDF.