Israel hits 68 Hamas targets in massive strike

The Israeli army hit 68 Hamas targets throughout the Gaza Strip on Friday evening in retaliation for the death of an Israeli soldier, according to a statement issued early Saturday morning by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The IDF announced Friday night that an Israeli combat soldier was killed by Palestinian gunmen during operational activity near southern Gaza, China's Xinhua News Agency reported.

The soldier was the first killed on the Gaza front in active duty since the 2014 war between Israel and Hamas, said an IDF spokesman. The IDF also called it the "most serious incident" since the 2014 Gaza war.

In response, the IDF carried out massive strikes against Hamas' military targets across Gaza. "After hitting eight targets immediately by IDF's tanks and aircraft, IDF fighter jets targeted 60 other military targets," read the statement.

So far, Israel has not made official comment on the cease-fire announcement of Hamas.