Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday warned Palestinians in the Hamas-led Gaza Strip that Israel would continue to act militarily against elements who launch missiles and rockets at the country's population centers.

Netanyahu's comments came after six rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israel overnight, prompting the Israel Air Force to respond with air strikes on multiple terror targets. The IDF Spokesman's office said that, while the Islamic Jihad was behind the rocket attacks, Israel still holds Hamas responsible for all attacks emanating from Gaza.

"Yesterday, rockets were fired against our communities and we immediately responded," the premier said. "My policy is to harm anyone who is trying to hurt us."

Netanyahu said Israel would not permit a trickle of rocket fire to go unanswered. "Nothing will be allowed to drip or accumulate," he said.

"We have acted and will continue to act against threats that are near and far," Netanyahu said. "I believe that Jews must be able to defend themselves, by themselves, and to act with determination against any enemy that tries to harm us."

Earlier on Monday, former foreign minister Avigdor Liberman told Israel Radio that the government should seriously consider the reoccupation of the Gaza Strip in response to Palestinian rocket fire on the western Negev.

Liberman, who currently heads the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said that if Israel were to allow the status quo to persist, Hamas would amass a fleet of aircraft and missiles that would threaten populous coastal towns like Tel Aviv and Netanya.

Israeli planes attack Gaza Strip after reported missiles were fired into Israel. Israeli warplanes have attacked targets in the Gaza Strip after missiles were fired into southern Israel late on Sunday night.

At least six rockets were fired from northern Gaza, but no damage or injury was reported.

Hours later, Israeli aircraft hit Hamas targets, a BBC reporter said.

The reason for the flare-up is unclear but sources blame tension in Gaza after an Islamic Jihad leader was killed by Hamas police on Saturday.

Raed Qassim Jundeyeih, 32, died after he was shot during a gun battle involving police and members of his family. Unconfirmed reports said he was a commander of the militant group's military wing, the Al-Quds brigades.

Islamic Jihad were believed to have been behind Sunday night's rocket attack on Israel, which came after a period of relative calm.

Sirens blared in a number of areas of southern Israel and Israeli media said two of the missiles, thought to be Grad rockets, were intercepted by the Iron Dome system in the Ashkelon area.

Israeli planes launched an attack in the early hours of Monday. BBC reporter Rushdi Abualouf said three areas were targeted and there were no reports of casualties.

• A Permanent Economic Emergency