Gaza City, August 16 (RHC)-- Israeli warplanes have conducted fresh airstrikes on the besieged Gaza Strip, shortly after Israeli troops attacked and injured dozens of Palestinians during anti-occupation protests near the fence separating the coastal sliver from the occupied territories.

According to a statement by the Israeli military, Israeli fighter jets struck on Friday two underground infrastructures purportedly belonging to the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement in the northern and central Gaza Strip.

There have been no immediate reports of possible causalities or damage as a result of the Israeli air raids.  The rocket fire had reportedly sounded sirens in Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council and in Sderot settlement.  Some settlers also said that they had heard sounds of explosions.

The developments came hours after at least 38 Palestinians sustained injuries, 20 of them by direct Israeli live fire, during anti-Israel protests in Gaza.  Palestinians have held weekly rallies in the area since last year to protest the siege on the enclave and stress the right to return of the refugees who have fled Israeli aggression since 1948.