A rocket was fired from Gaza into Israel early on Saturday, followed by three more in the afternoon, none of which caused any casualties or damage,  the army said.

In response, Israel launched air strikes on southern Gaza, “hitting a site of terrorist activity and a weapons depot”, an army statement said.

Hamas said Apache gunships had fired on a training camp of its armed wing in Khan Yunis and empty ground in Rafah, on the Egyptian border, without causing casualties.

It is unclear whether or not the rocket fire was connected to events surrounding the kidnapping of three teenage yeshiva boys from Gush Etzion, as Israel has placed responsibility on Hamas and the PA for the attack – and surrounded Gaza with roadblocks to prevent the boys from being taken there.