GAZA, July 19 (Xinhua) -- One member of Islamist group Hamas was killed and three others wounded on Thursday in air raids launched by the Israeli drones in eastern Rafah province, eyewitnesses and health ministry said.

Ambulances rushed to the scene and the wounded were transferred to European Gaza Hospital, Ashraf al Qedra, spokesperson for the Health Ministry said in statement.

A Palestinian security source told Xinhua the Israeli airforce struck the vicinity of an observatory post of Hamas movement in the southern Gaza Strip.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said it struck a Hamas terror cell, which was responsible for launching incendiary kites and balloons into Israel.

The casualties were security men working at the post near Rafah, Hamas sources said.

Later, Palestinian factions responded by firing mortar shells at the Israeli soldiers across the borders.

Israeli media reported five shells were launched from Gaza on southern Israeli region of Eshkol, but no causalities had been reported.

Earlier, military wings of some Palestinian factions said the Israeli raids will be met by similar actions from their side, adding they wouldn't allow Israel to impose its aggressive plans on the Palestinian people or challenge their resistance.

Clashes at the Israel-Gaza border continue for months due to demonstrations dubbed "the Great March of Return".

In a press release on Thursday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said that 142 have been killed, including 18 children and two women, and 16,496 wounded since the protests in the Gaza Strip started on March 30.