JERUSALEM, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Israel's army said a tank fired at a Hamas position in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, noting the firing was a response to gunshots fired towards a military force earlier.

A military spokesperson said in a statement the fire hit an obversion position belonging to Hamas, the Islamist group that runs Gaza, after shots were fired towards Israeli troops, causing no injuries.

The gunshots were fired from a region in Gaza where weekly demonstrations have been held over the past weeks, the spokesperson said.

The incident was the latest in escalating violence between Palestinians and the Israeli forces.

It comes amidst six-week protest to mark the 70th anniversary of the statehood of Israel, known to Palestinians as the Nakba, or "the catastrophe."

Dozens of Palestinians were killed by Israeli military gunfire and thousands were injured during the weekend marches towards the fence.