Israeli warplanes fired missiles at five targets across Gaza overnight, killing a senior commander of the Hamas military wing and wounding 11 people, on Saturday.

The Israeli military said the strikes were carried out in response to a rocket fired from Gaza that hit the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon on Friday.

The attack caused material damage but no injuries.

Hamas said their slain member was 42-year-old Issa Batran, a commander of the groups' military wing.

The targets hit by missiles included a Hamas military training camp in Gaza City, smuggling tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border and Batran's shack on the outskirts of the Nusseirat refugee camp, Hamas security officials said.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the Israeli airstrikes were the "natural result of Arab decisions to accept negotiations with the occupation".

Arab nations on Thursday endorsed the idea of restarting direct negotiations with Israel, but left the timing up to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has laid down several conditions.