GAZA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Israeli war jets struck overnight a Hamas military facility in Rafah town in southern Gaza Strip with five missiles. No injuries were reported according to Hamas security officials and paramedics.

The Israeli airstrikes were a response to an earlier infiltration of four Palestinians who managed to cut the fence of the borders between eastern Gaza and Israel and damaged an Israeli army machine that digs the ground to destroy underground tunnels.

The Israeli airstrike was also a response to Gaza militants shooting at a small Israeli army drone that hovered over southeast Gaza Strip, according to the security officials, adding that during the Israeli airstrikes, militants fired on the attacking Israeli war planes.

The Israeli media reported that the Israeli war jets struck targets that belong to Hamas militants in southern Gaza Strip in response to damaging Israeli army digging machines and also in response to firing at Israeli drones.

Meanwhile, Islamic Hamas movement spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in an emailed press statement that the Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip was aiming at foiling the preparations for the big march of return the Palestinians are preparing.

Hamas movement and other Palestinian factions are preparing for a large popular Palestinian march that will start on March 30 and end on May 15. Hamas called on Gaza populations to peacefully demonstrate during the big march close to the borders with Israel.