GAZA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Israeli army artillery and drones shelled a military facility in the Gaza Strip on Monday in response to arson kite attacks from the coastal enclave, local media and security sources said.
Young Palestinians released dozens of arson balloons from eastern Gaza into Israel, which caused huge fires to large agricultural fields in southern Israel, Israeli media reported.
In response, Israeli army artillery stationed on the border bombarded a military facility in northern Gaza, with no injuries reported, said local media and security sources.
Israeli drones also attacked three locations close to the border between Israel and the northern and northeastern Gaza Strip, with no injuries reported, they added.
The Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have repeatedly threatened to launch large-scale military attacks on Gaza in retaliation for Hamas' arson attacks.
But Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in an e-mailed press statement that Israeli threats won't stop the Palestinians from carrying on their struggle.
"Our people's struggle will go on until they get their legitimate rights and end the unfair siege that has been imposed on the Gaza Strip for 11 years," he said.
According to health ministry in Gaza, Israeli forces have killed at least 139 Palestinians, and injured 16,000 others since March 30, the first day of the ongoing Palestinian "Great March of Return" rally against Israel's 11-year crippling blockade. Enditem
