Israeli F-16 fighter jets carried out four successive airstrikes on the northern, central and southern Gaza Strip before dawn Sunday in response to earlier rocket attacks by militants in the enclave.

Seven persons sustained light injuries, four of them children, the Palestianian news agency Ma´an reported Sunday morning.

Missiles hit near the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, as well as south of Gaza City, in the central town of Deir el-Ballah and east of the southern city of Khan Younis.

According to the IDF spokesman, the attack was a response to the killing of Netanel Moshiashvili, 21, of Ashkelon, an IDF solider killed in an exchange of fire near the Israel-Gaza border Friday morning, after the militant broke through the border fence and headed toward nearby Israeli communities.

“The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers, and will continue to operate with strength and determination against anyone who uses terror against the State of Israel. The Hamas terror organization is solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip,” IDF said in a statement. (© Copyright 2012 Ha´aretz 06/03/12)