Israeli PM cuts short Paris visit amid abrupt escalation in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday cut short his visit to Paris after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed at least six people which raised tensions in the region.

Netanyahu's office said that the prime minister is heading back to Jerusalem "in the wake of the security situation in southern Israel."

According to Hamas military wing, a special Israeli unit in a civilian car had crossed 3 km into Gaza, and was exposed by Hamas militants.

The group issued a statement saying that during fire exchanges, Israeli aircraft were called to help the unit to withdraw back to Israeli territory.

At least six Palestinians were killed in the strikes, including a commander in Hamas' military wing, Nur Barakeh, according to Palestinian reports.

Shortly after the attacks, sirens were sounded in southern Israel. "Two launches were identified from the Gaza Strip towards Israel," a military spokesperson said in a statement. "The Iron Dome aerial defense system intercepted the launches."

An Israeli military spokeswoman said much of the details of the incident were classified. However, the military issued a statement confirming "an exchange of fire" during an "IDF (Israel Defense Forces) operational activity in the Gaza Strip."

The army's Home Front Command instructed residents in communities near the Gaza Strip to stay indoors and schools were canceled for Monday, Israeli authorities said.

Earlier on Sunday, Netanyahu warned that if calm along the border is not kept, "we will act with maximum power."

The violence came as Egypt and the United Nations were attempting to broker a long-term cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist Palestinian group that runs Gaza.