Israeli planes have attacked targets in the Gaza Strip, for the second time in 48 hours, witnesses and security sources say.

Both attacks on the Palestinian territories have taken place since rockets were fired at Israel.

Shortly after reports of the second Israeli attack, the Israeli military stated that four new rockets had been fired from the Gaza Strip during the night towards Thursday.

This is the largest number since the eleven-day war last year.

The army states that the country's air defense fired the rockets.

In the past week, hundreds have been injured in clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

When ultra-nationalists staged a similar protest march less than a year ago, Islamist Hamas responded with rocket attacks on Israel, triggering an eleven-day war between Israel and extremists in Gaza.

This year, Israeli police on Wednesday night prevented nearly 1,000 ultranationalist protesters from entering the Damascus Gate and then on through the Old City of Jerusalem, but a rocket was nevertheless fired from the Gaza Strip.

Israel has announced that almost all roads in and out of the West Bank and Gaza will be closed during the Jewish Passover Passover, from Thursday evening to Sunday.