Saying that it holds Hamas “responsible for all occurrences in Gaza,” the IDF struck at several military targets belonging to the terrorist organization in Gaza following the explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) near the border fence, The Times of Israel reported Wednesday.

The IDF released a statement on the explosion saying, “During a routine activity in northern Gaza, an explosive device that was placed under the guise of the riots was detonated against an IDF engineering vehicle on the western side of the security fence. No injuries were reported.”

The army statement accused Hamas, which has orchestrated riots near the border fence in recent weeks, of using the cover of civilians to plant the IEDs. The army statement also stated that it held Hamas responsible for “all occurrences in Gaza,” and that it “will not allow the terror organization to turn the area of the security fence into a combat zone.”

In response, the IDF struck a number of Hamas military targets. The IDF holds Hamas responsible for all occurrences in Gaza and will not allow the terror organization to turn the area of the security fence into a combat zone

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) April 11, 2018

According to the Times, the IED explosion near Israel’s border fence with Gaza is the latest such event in the area coordinated or allowed by Hamas. In February, four Israeli soldiers were injured when a bomb, which was disguised as flagpole, exploded near the border fence.

Defense analysts cited by the Times say that Hamas has been forced to use the confusion of demonstrations to hide attacks against the border due Israel’s development of effective countermeasures. Iron Dome protects against Hamas’s missile arsenal, and Israel’s anti-tunnel technology has been thwarting Hamas’s attempts to attack Israel from below ground.

[Photo: Associated Press / YouTube]