Israel strikes Gaza after incendiary balloons launched

Israeli fighter jets carried out airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in response to incendiary balloons launched at southern Israel, according to security sources.

The sources said that late Saturday night, the Israeli war jets fired two missiles at a military training post south of Gaza city that belongs to al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Hamas movement, Xinhua news agency reported.

Several missiles also targeted various Hamas military posts in northern and western Gaza, said the sources, adding that no injury was reported while there were severe damages at the Hamas military posts and facilities.

Earlier on Saturday, Palestinian activists fired several incendiary balloons from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel, causing fires and damages.

No injury was reported.

Since the 11-day Israeli-Palestinian conflict ended on May 21, Israeli fighter jets carried out several airstrikes on Hamas military facilities and posts in response to incendiary balloons.

The Egypt brokered-ceasefire between Israel and Hamas-led militant groups continues in the Gaza Strip.

However, Gaza activists continued launching arson balloons at Israel, demanding that the Jewish state must end the 14 years' blockade imposed on the impoverished enclave.

In a separate incident, a young Palestinian man was killed by Israeli soldiers near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, medical sources said.

In a statement, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said that 20-year-old Mohammed Hassan from the Qusra village, southeast of Nablus, was killed on Saturday after being shot on his chest by Israeli soldiers, reports Xinhua news agency.

Witnesses said that Hassan was at the roof of his house and died from a stray gunshot fired by Israeli soldiers during clashes with Palestinian demonstrators in the village.

Besides Hassan, the Ministry said that two other Palestinian demonstrators were shot and wounded by Israeli soldiers.

They were evacuated to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus for treatment.

Bashar al-Qaryouti, a Palestinian activist in the movement against Israeli settlement, told Xinhua that the clashes broke out in the village of Qusra after a group of settlers stormed there on Saturday afternoon.

"Over the past few weeks, the village has been subjected to daily attacks carried out by Israeli settlers who live in the nearby settlement outposts near Nablus," he said.

There has been no immediate comment from the Israeli army on the development.