At least 45 rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza overnight on Tuesday in a dramatic escalation of cross-border fire.

It prompted Israeli air strikes on Hamas positions within the Gaza Strip early on Wednesday morning, the IDF said.

“The Hamas terror organization targeted Israeli civilians throughout the night with a severe rocket attack and is dragging the Gaza Strip and its civilians down a continually deteriorating path,” the military said in a statement.

Seven rockets were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome defence system and at least three fell prematurely and landed in Gaza, it added.

Bomb disposal units were dispatched to deal with rockets that landed within Israeli territory.

Eshkol Regional Council said five projectiles fell inside populated communities, including near a community centre and a kindergarten.

One rocket caused damage to buildings and vehicles, Haartez reported.

Israel said it struck 25 Hamas targets overnight in response.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum praised the attacks as “a legitimate right that bombing is met with bombing” but did not take responsibility for them.