Israeli strikes in Gaza kill three senior Palestinian armed group commanders By Reuters

GAZA (Reuters) -Israel killed three senior Islamic Jihad commanders in Gaza air strikes, Palestinian officers mentioned, because the Israeli navy confirmed it was finishing up an operation towards the group earlier than daybreak on Tuesday.

Medics mentioned not less than six Palestinians had been killed within the air strikes, three of whom had been civilians, and several other extra had been wounded.

The Israeli navy mentioned it focused three senior commanders of the Islamic Jihad, the second strongest armed group within the Hamas-ruled, blockaded coastal enclave. Two Islamic Jihad sources confirmed the deaths.

Highly effective explosions rocked Gaza and a video circulating on social media, which Reuters couldn’t instantly confirm, confirmed smoke billowing and flames lighting up the evening sky.

Final week, the loss of life of a Palestinian starvation striker in Israeli custody triggered a number of hours of cross-border preventing between Israel and armed teams in Gaza, by which one Palestinian man was killed.

The air strikes marked the most recent incident in additional than a yr of surging violence, with repeated Israeli navy raids and escalating settler violence within the occupied West Financial institution amid a spate of Palestinian road assaults focusing on Israelis. Greater than 90 Palestinians and not less than 19 Israelis and foreigners have been killed since January.

COGAT, a unit within the Israeli defence ministry that coordinates civilian affairs with the Palestinians, mentioned two crossings with Gaza had been closed for entry and exit of individuals and items till additional discover.

In anticipation of rocket fireplace in response to the killings, the Israeli navy launched particular directions for Israelis dwelling in cities inside 40 kilometres of Gaza, together with to stay close to bomb shelters from 2:30 a.m. native time on Tuesday till 6 p.m. on Thursday.