A fireball rises following an airstrike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Monday. AFP

Israeli aircraft struck a series of targets in the Gaza Strip early on Monday in response to a series of rocket launches out of the Hamas-ruled territory. It was the third consecutive night of fighting.

Six Palestinian inmates, as well as struggling efforts by Egypt to broker a long-term cease-fire in the wake of an 11-day war last May have heightened tensions following last week’s escape from an Israeli prison.

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Israel carries airstrikes on Gaza again

Israeli police catch two more Palestinian jail escapees, two still at large

In earlier reports Palestinians launched a rocket into Israel from the Gaza Strip on Sunday night, the Israeli military said, adding that the rocket was intercepted.

In response, it said it attacked a number of Hamas targets. There were no reports of casualties on either side.

A fireball rises following an airstrike in Gaza Strip early on Monday. AFP

Israel over the weekend captured four of the six escaped prisoners and stepped up its search for the two remaining fugitives.

In response, Hamas members have fired rockets into Israel for three consecutive nights. Israel typically responds to rocket fire with airstrikes on targets connected to Gaza's ruling Hamas group.

The tensions have been worsened by ongoing difficulties in reaching a long-term cease-fire between Israel and Hamas following the war in May.

Egypt has been trying to broker an agreement. Hamas has demanded that Israel lift a painful economic blockade of Gaza, while Israel wants Hamas to release two Israeli civilians and return the remains of two dead Israeli soldiers it is holding.

Gaza is an impoverished territory whose population is overwhelmingly comprised of families who fled or were forced from properties in what is now Israel during the war surrounding Israel's establishment in 1948.

Hamas is pushing for Israel to end a crippling blockade that has devastated Gaza's economy, while Israel is demanding that Hamas free two captive Israeli civilians and return the remains of two dead Israeli soldiers.