UPDATE - Hamas blames Israel for Gaza escalation

*UPDATES WITH HAMAS STATEMENT

By Mohamed Maged

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - Palestinian group Hamas on Saturday blamed Israel for recent escalation in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli tanks fired at Hamas targets in Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip following a rocket fire into southern Israel.

No injuries were reported.

“The Israeli occupation is responsible for the consequences of this assault on Gaza,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassim said in a statement.

“This aggression will not stop our people from getting their freedom and pursuing their struggle to liberate their land from the occupation,” he said.

The Israeli army earlier said a rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip and exploded near the Hof Ashkelon area in southern Israel, causing no injuries.

In mid-2014, Israel waged a devastating 51-day military onslaught on the Gaza Strip in which more than 2,300 Palestinians were killed and tens of thousands injured.

According to Israeli figures, 68 Israeli soldiers and five Israeli civilians were killed in the conflict, while another 2,522 Israelis -- including 740 soldiers -- were injured.