The Israeli military said on Thursday it intercepted a rocket fired at southern Israel from Gaza. Nine rocket launches were identified overnight, according to the statement. It came a day after the military shelled Hamas targets in Gaza, killing three Hamas militants, AP reports. The shelling was in response to sniper fire at troops on the border that moderately wounded an Israeli officer. In recent weeks, the Israel-Gaza border has seen an escalation in violence, following months of weekly protests organized by Hamas.