In recent days, a large number of helium balloons, filled with flammable and explosive substances, have been sent from Gaza into Israel. This with the aim of creating fires in residential areas and in agriculture.

On Tuesday alone, the Israeli rescue service reported that about 60 fires had occurred, but that no one had been injured, Al Jazeera writes.

The attacks are being carried out by Hamas, a militant Islamist organization that has ruled Gaza since 2007. This is because they want to pressure Israel to ease its blockade of isolated Gaza, which for several years has suffered from a lack of key supplies, including medicine and construction materials.

Unemployment is around 40 percent, with widespread poverty as a result.

Hit back

Israel has responded to the balloon attacks by attacking military targets inside Gaza with fighter jets, helicopters and tanks, most recently during the night towards Thursday. There are no reports of deaths or injuries.

The border crossing to Gaza from Israel has been closed and on Thursday the Israeli government announced that the country will stop all deliveries of fuel to the enclave, reports Reuters.

This has led the Hamas leadership to react strongly, as most of Gaza's fuel supply comes from Israel. According to them, the measure will further aggravate the humanitarian situation in the enclave.

On Wednesday, Israel also almost halved the sea area in which Palestinians in Gaza are allowed to fish - also in response to the balloon attacks.

"This is a serious aggression," said Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, according to Reuters.