Tensions between Israel and Gaza escalated on Wednesday after a volley of rockets from Gaza struck southern Israel, prompting the Israeli Defense Force to respond with artillery fire.
The exchange of fire comes less than a day after an Israeli airstrike killed three members of Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip following a skirmish at a border fence.
"We shall continue to thwart and attack those who seek to attack us, and shall act against them with great force," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement, according to Reuters.
News reports of the attack as well as artillery fire were confirmed by the IDF Twitter feed.
BREAKING: Initial Report - #Gaza terrorists fired a salvo of rockets at #Israel. The Iron Dome shot down 3 of them
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) March 12, 2014
The IDF reported the launch of more than 30 rockets, although some reports put the number as high as 55. The IDF claimed to have intercepted three of the rockets with its Iron Dome defense system. There were no reports of Israeli casualties from the rockets.
Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian organization based in Gaza, reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.
The IDF said the attack is the largest since October 2012, when Israel launched an operation called "Pillar of Defence," which attempted to end rocket fire from Gaza. A truce had been in place since November 2012.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron met with Netanyahu in Israel. His official Twitter account sent out this photo earlier today, before the rocket exchange.
Meeting Bibi Netanyahu in Israel - I'm here as a friend and a supporter of the two state solution. pic.twitter.com/j8CPE8NOO0
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) March 12, 2014