Damage caused by rockets fired from Gaza. Photo: IDF.

The Israeli Air Force has responded to increased Gaza rocket attacks aimed at Southern Israel by striking a terror site according to an IDF statement to reporters.

“IAF aircraft targeted a terror tunnel in the northern Gaza Strip. Direct hits were identified,” said the release.

The IDF says that over 40 rockets have been fired at Israel during the past week, 7 of which struck in the past 24 hour period.

Earlier today, Israeli Daily Yediot Ahronot reported that “dozens of rockets and mortar shells that were fired towards Eshkol on Monday hit two structures in the council, causing damage. The military wings of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad’s claimed responsibility for the attacks.”

Israel National News added that “a significant number of goats were killed when a missile struck a children’s animal corner in one kibbutz. A mortar shell also exploded close to a synagogue in a barrage that was fired at about 5:50 a.m. Monday.”

“The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli civilians, and will operate against anyone who uses terror against the State of Israel,” the statement confirmed, “The Hamas terror organization is solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip.”

Israeli news outlets reported that Palestinian sources claimed the rocket attacks were in response to IAF action on Friday that targeted, “Tala’at Halil Muhammad Jarbi (b. 1989), a Global Jihad operative from Rafah, and Abdullah Muhammad Hassan Maqawai (b. 1988), a member of the Ashora Council of the Martyrs of Jerusalem, a Gaza-based Global Jihad affiliate.”