Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza after Palestinian mortar fire

The Israeli army launched airstrikes on a Hamas military position on Tuesday after a number of mortar shells were fired from the Gaza Strip.

The airstrikes targeted a Hamas observation post in the central Gaza Strip, Palestinian media reported.

Four mortar shells were fired at Israel from the besieged coastal enclave, with one landing in Israel and three others landing in Gaza.

There have been no reports of injuries.

The incident comes a day after Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza in response to rocket fire and reduced fuel deliveries as a punitive measure.

Hamas denounced the cut as an "act of collective punishment that violates all humanitarian and international laws".

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is widely seen as wanting to avoid an escalation in Gaza ahead of next month's election.

Speculation has grown that militants in the blockaded enclave are hoping to pressure him into further concessions under a truce deal.

Since the start of August, incidents have included rocket fire from Gaza, infiltration attempts by armed Palestinians and return fire by Israel.

Israel has used fishing restrictions and fuel supplies as weapons, harshening measures on the blockaded coastal strip in response to violence.