Israel strikes Hamas after bomb explodes on Gaza border

JERUSALEM – The Israeli military says it has struck several Hamas targets in Gaza after a bomb planted on the border exploded near Israeli troops.

The military says the explosive device was placed along the border fence area during protests that have been taking place there. It exploded near an Israeli bulldozer on Wednesday.

No one was wounded by the bomb, and there were no immediately reports on casualties from the retaliatory strikes.

Israel says it holds Hamas responsible for all violence emanating from Gaza and will not allow the border area to become a combat zone.

Hamas has called for Palestinians to amass at the border as part of a weekslong campaign of protests against a decade-old Israeli and Egyptian blockade of the territory. Twenty-six protesters have been killed thus far.