The Israeli army has confirmed that it struck several terror sites in the Gaza Strip overnight, in response to the barrage of rockets fired at southern Israel by Hamas.

Hamas has fired more than 130 rockets and mortar shells across the border since the beginning of the year, including 56 in the last week.

The air force struck tunnels used by Hamas for terror activities, as well as two weapons - manufacturing facilities, and two other sites used by terrorist groups.

Palestinian news sources said 18 people had been injured in the strikes.

A spokesman for the IDF said: “We will not allow the Israeli southern communities to continue living under constant threat.

“We will respond with determination to any attempt to use terror against the citizens of Israel.”

Yesterday Alistair Burt, Britain’s Foreign Office minister for the Middle East, condemned Hamas’s behaviour as unacceptable and called on the organisation to “rein in other militant factions in Gaza”.