Israel jets strike Gaza 'in response to projectile' after protester shot dead

Israeli forces said Saturday they had launched several strikes against Hamas sites in Gaza in response to a projectile launched from the besieged Palestinian enclave.

"Our fighter jets and aircraft just struck several Hamas targets and underground structures in Gaza," the force tweeted.

It said a Hamas compound in the southern Gaza Strip and underground structures in the north were hit.

The force said the attack was in response to "a projectile" launched into Israeli-held territory.

Security officials in Gaza said the strikes had not caused any casualties.

A Palestinian was killed and at least 45 others wounded by Israeli fire Friday in new protests and clashes along the Gaza border, the enclave's health ministry said.

At least 253 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the rallies began, the majority shot during weekly border protests and others hit by tank fire or air strikes.

Two Israeli soldiers have been killed over the same period.

[Click to enlarge]

The conclusions of a UN probe have said Israeli forces responding to protests on the Gaza border have committed "violations of international human rights and humanitarian law".

An Israeli army spokesman said around 8,400 demonstrators had gathered along a barrier between the blockaded territory and Israel on Friday.

The Gaza Strip has been the scene of mass protests and clashes since late March last year.

Demonstrators have been calling for Palestinian refugees and their descendants to be allowed to return to former homes now inside Israel.

Israeli officials claim that amounts to calling for the Jewish state's destruction.

Israel and Hamas, which has controlled the blockaded Gaza Strip for over a decade, have fought three wars since 2008.