The Israeli military launched airstrikes in Gaza in response to rocket fire on Saturday, the first time such action has been taken since hostilities in August ended in a truce.

A Hamas cement factory was reportedly the target of the strike, taking place in retaliation for a rocket attack from Gaza into southern Israel on Friday. Local hospital officials reported no casualties from the airstrike.

The rocket attack, which landed in an open field and caused no injuries, was the third instance of fire from Gaza since the August 26 truce.

Commenting on the strikes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said,

“Israel's safety comes first. I won't allow even one rocket, and that is why the IAF responded to the rocket and destroyed a cement factory that was making cement to repair tunnels that were hit during Operation Protective Edge. Hamas will be held responsible for every escalation.”

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon also spoke on the strikes, saying, “We hold Hamas responsible for what happens in the strip, and we know how to respond to the attacks if they don't know how to stop them”.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniya said the airstrikes were a "dangerous violation of the ceasefire" and called on Egypt, which brokered the August 26 truce, to "move with urgency" to ensure Israel respects the agreement.

In separate incidents four Palestinian protestors were reportedly shot in the legs by Israeli soldiers during a demonstration on Friday and the Israeli navy also fired warning shots at Palestinian fishermen who had strayed beyond the imposed six nautical mile limit off Gaza's coast on Saturday.