The Israeli army said on Wednesday that five rockets were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip but they were ''successfully intercepted''.

"Five rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israeli territory. The IDF (Israel Defense Force) aerial defence array successfully intercepted all the rocket launches," the army said in a statement.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility from any Palestinian factions.

Israel's army added that sirens had sounded in the southern city of Sderot.

The rocket fire came after Israeli forces launched a large-scale operation in the occupied West Bank in the early hours of Monday.

Twelve Palestinians and one Israeli soldier have been killed since the operation on Jenin refugee camp began.