An explosion is seen in northern Gaza city on June 20, 2018. The Israeli military said Wednesday its aircraft had struck overnight about 25 Hamas sites in Gaza after Palestinian militants launched rockets and mortars at southern Israel. (Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military said Wednesday its aircraft had struck overnight about 25 Hamas sites in Gaza after Palestinian militants launched rockets and mortars at southern Israel.

Some 45 projectiles were fired at Israel over the night and early morning, a military spokesperson said in a statement, adding that "seven launches were intercepted by the military Iron Dome aerial defense system and at least three fell in the Gaza Strip."

Some rockets exploded in southern Israel, causing no injuries but damaging some houses and cars. In Gaza, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that "a number of Palestinians" were injured in the strikes.

A Hamas spokesperson praised the rocket attacks but did not assume responsibility for the fire, said a Palestinian media report.

The clash was part of an escalation along the Israel-Gaza fence. Since a mass protest starting from March 30 near the fence between the besieged Palestinian enclave and Israel, Israeli forces have killed at least 130 protesters, according to Palestinian count.?