At least 15 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, including three commanders of the extremist group Islamic Jihad.
According to Palestinian health officials, the fatalities included eight women and children. 22 more people were hurt.
Israel claimed that the Islamic Jihad officials it had targeted overnight were responsible for recent attacks against Israeli citizens.
Islamic Jihad has pledged vengeance, and militants in Gaza are expected to retaliate by firing rockets into Israel.
The scope of any escalation is likely to be determined by Hamas’ decision to join in.
The strikes were the deadliest since three days of fighting in Gaza last August between Israel and Islamic Jihad.
The Israeli airstrikes began in the early hours of Tuesday morning, when 40 airplanes and helicopters pounded Gaza in numerous waves, destroying homes and sparking terror among people.
At least two apartments had their fronts ripped off and others were damaged, according to pictures.
According to the Gaza health ministry, four children and four women were murdered. According to the report, half of the injured were women and children, with several in critical condition at the hospital.
Dr. Jamal Khaswan, a former chairman of the Gaza Dentists’ Association, was slain alongside his wife Mervat and their 21-year-old son Youssef, according to Russia.
According to the report, another two of their children survived. Diala, a 10-year-old girl, was seen screaming for her father in the front seat of an ambulance.
Dr. Wafai al-Sousi, a friend and colleague of Dr. Khaswan’s, decried the “cowardly targeting” of the family.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces conducted a raid in the West Bank city of Nablus.
According to Palestinian media, two Palestinians were imprisoned, and 13 others were shot and injured amid clashes with troops. A soldier was lightly hurt when a device burst next to his armored vehicle, according to Israeli media.
