IDF troops on Sunday evening located two explosive devices placed by terrorists who had earlier infiltrated Israel through the security fence near northern Gaza.
“The IDF views with great severity any attempt to damage the security fence or security infrastructure and will not allow the region to become a combat zone. Hamas is responsible for all events originating from the Gaza Strip and its consequences,” the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement.
On Sunday afternoon, following the infiltration from Gaza, the IDF launched an artillery barrage on terrorist positions in the region.
The incident occurred after several armed terrorists on the Israel-Gaza frontier crossed the Gaza security fence and entered Israeli territory.
It is unclear if there were any casualties as a result of the Israeli artillery fire.
Tensions along the Israel-Gaza border have worsened in recent weeks, following the beginning of six weeks of violent demonstrations and attempted infiltrations into Israel along the Gaza security fence.
On March 30, rioters kicked off the “March of Return” demonstrations, which drew tens of thousands in clashes with IDF forces along the border.
According to Gaza health officials, 29 rioters have been killed during the clashes with the IDF, with close to 3,000 more wounded.
The IDF has reported that at least 12 of the rioters killed in the disturbances are terrorists with known ties to the Hamas organization, while others approached the security fence and attempted to cross into Israel, despite warnings by the IDF prior to the riots.