Israeli army has continued bombarding open areas in northern Gaza Strip in response to homemade rockets launched by Palestinian militants, witnesses and security sources said on Monday.

Most of shells landed in fields and groves, said local farmers.

There was no report on casualties.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said on Sunday that up to 400 shells had been fired at Gaza since Friday as part of a campaign to stop Palestinian militants firing home-made rockets into southern Israel.

Palestinian militants said they have fired two rockets into Israel from northern Gaza over the weekend, claiming the rockets fell into the coastal city of Ashkelon in southern Israel.

In a statement released on Monday, the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) and the Popular Resistance Committees claimed joint responsibility for the attack, citing it was meant to mark the Palestinian Prisoner Day, an annual occasion to show solidarity with about 9, 000 prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Source: Xinhua