(JNS) An Israel Defense Forces drone struck Hamas terror outposts in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday evening, September 26 for the third time this week, as riots along the border with the Palestinian enclave continue to escalate.

Earlier on Tuesday, multiple rioters from Gaza managed to breach the border fence and set fire to a nearby IDF position. They returned to the Gaza Strip unharmed, Israel’s Walla news site cited security forces as saying.

Tensions with the Gaza Strip have exploded over the past two weeks amid a renewal of violent demonstrations along the border, and as the heads of Palestinian terrorist groups called for a new intifada against the Jewish state.

Hundreds of Palestinians have participated in the riots, hurling bombs and grenades at the security barrier, prompting Israeli forces to respond with riot dispersal methods and in some cases live fire.

The IDF also attacked Hamas posts in Gaza on Friday, Saturday and Monday in response to the riots and the renewed launch of incendiary balloons. On Monday, a terrorist opened fire on troops stationed along the frontier. An IDF soldier returned fire and identified a hit, according to the military. Earlier in the day, troops arrested two suspects attempting to infiltrate into Israeli territory before transferring them for questioning.

Jerusalem has decided to keep the Erez border crossing closed until Hamas ends the violence, thereby preventing tens of thousands of Gazans with work permits from entering Israel.