Israeli jets launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip late Tuesday, with loud explosions heard in the besieged coastal enclave. Tensions between the sides have escalated over the death of a prominent Palestinian prisoner in Israeli custody after an 87-day hunger strike, Al Jazeera reports..

The airstrikes came after Islamic forces fired 37 rounds into Israel in the day following the death of Hader Adnan, a member of an Islamic Jihad group on hunger strike in an Israeli prison, writes The Times of Israel.

Israeli media say the targets were \; another base that housed a weapons production site, a concrete production plant and a training center; website owned by Naval Special Forces terrorist group; and the tunnel used by Hamas in southern Gaza"

Media affiliated with the Islamic movement Hamas confirmed that Israeli planes hit two points in Gaza.

[see_also ids\u003d"

Awaiting trial, Adnan was found unconscious in his cell and taken to hospital, where he was declared dead after attempts to resuscitate him, the Israel Prison Service said Tuesday..

Hundreds of people took to the streets of the blocked Gaza and the occupied West Bank to rally in support of the deceased Adnan, Palestinian leaders called the death a murder.

The Israeli military said at least 26 rockets were fired from the enclave.. The two landed in the southern city of Sderot, injuring three people, including a 25-year-old foreigner who, according to the Israeli ambulance service, suffered serious shrapnel wounds..

[see_also ids\u003d"

Hamas and Islamic Jihad Claim Responsibility for Rocket Attacks on Israel.

Earlier in the day, Tel Aviv fired artillery at several areas in eastern Gaza City and Khan Younis, targeting the Malaka area in particular, Al Jazeera correspondent Heba Akkila reported..

No casualties or damage reported yet.

In a tweet, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the security services will act "

[see_also ids\u003d"

Israeli observers say attack on Gaza is imminent.

“It is clear that Israel's response will. Expect intense airstrikes in the next few hours,” said Jackie Khoury, Israeli affairs expert, Al Jazeera from Haifa..

“I believe that at this stage the rules of the game will remain unchanged: as in the past month, intensive air strikes on Gaza were not directed at residential areas”.

Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Jamjum, reporting from West Jerusalem, said it would be strange if Israel did not respond. Typically, "