Smoke rises in the distance after war planes belonging to the Israeli army carried out airstrikes over Khan Yunis, in the Southern Gaza Strip early morning on August 21, 2020. (SAID KHATIB / AFP)

JERUSALEM - Israel struck on Tuesday Hamas' tunnels in Gaza, saying the attack was in response to the earlier launch of explosive balloons from the Palestinian enclave.

In an overnight attack, Israeli tanks, warplanes and other Israeli forces targeted military posts and an underground infrastructure belonging to Hamas in the southern Gaza Strip

In an overnight attack, Israeli tanks, warplanes and other Israeli forces targeted military posts and an underground infrastructure belonging to Hamas in the southern Gaza Strip, a military spokesperson said in a statement.

"The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) remains ready to operate decisively against any attempted terror activity aimed at Israeli civilians or any violation of Israeli sovereignty," the statement reads.

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The Hebrew-language Ha'aretz newspaper reported that a Qatari envoy was expected to arrive in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday to arrange the transfer of much-needed financing to the besieged enclave.

Tensions had been increasing over the past days as militant groups in the Gaza Strip fired balloons attached with incendiary and explosive materials into southern Israel.

Israel has carried out almost daily airstrikes and used artillery against Hamas' sites for the past two weeks. It also closed the fishing zone around Gaza and the main cargo crossing of the Palestinian enclave.

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Hamas, which rules Gaza, demanded that Israel ease the blockade it had imposed since the movement seized power in Gaza in 2007.