JERUSALEM/GAZA, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Israel on Friday evening bombarded a bank that belongs to Hamas in Gaza city, the Israeli military and Hamas said.

"Fighter jets struck a multi-story building in the northern Gaza Strip, which contained a branch of a Hamas bank," an Israeli military spokesperson said in a statement.

According to the army, the strike "dealt a significant blow to Hamas' financial administration," as the branch was used for managing the day-to-day cash flow of Hamas and its military wing.

Meanwhile, the Hamas-run interior ministry said in a short text message sent to reporters that Israeli warplanes bombed a five-storey building in western Gaza city, which included the office of the Production Bank.

Eyewitnesses said the Israeli warplanes fired at least three missiles at the bank. It is the third Hamas bank office destroyed by Israeli fighter jets in the Gaza Strip.

It is worth noting that Hamas' military tunnels in Gaza were also struck in the bombardment, according to the Israeli military.

Tension between Israel and the Hamas-led militant groups has been flaring up since Monday, leaving 122 Palestinians and nine Israelis killed, according to Palestinian and Israeli official figures.

Since Monday, the Israeli army said Gaza militants have fired more than 2,000 rockets at Israel, while the Iron Dome defense system intercepted most of them.

Meanwhile, Palestinian sources said the contacts to reach calm between the two sides have so far failed, adding Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations lead the truce mediation. Enditem

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