Three Senior Commanders Of Palestinian Armed Groups And Civilians Killed In Israeli Attack On Gaza

Illustration of Israeli fighter jets. (Wikimedia Commons/US Air Force/Darell I. Dean)

Israel killed three senior commanders of Islamic Jihad in airstrikes in Gaza, Palestinian officials said, as the country's military confirmed they carried out operations against the group before dawn on Tuesday.

The Israeli military said it was targeting three senior commanders of Islamic Jihad, the second-strongest armed group in a blockaded and Hamas-controlled coastal enclave. Two sources from Islamic Jihad confirmed the death, reported by Reuters on May 9.

The devastating explosions rocked Gaza and a video circulating on social media, which could not immediately be verified, showed smoke billowing and flames illuminating the night sky.

Meanwhile, medics said at least six Palestinians were killed in the airstrike, three of whom were civilians, and several were injured.

Last week, the death of a hunger strike Palestinian fighter in Israeli custody sparked several hours of cross-border fighting between Israel and armed groups in Gaza, which killed one Palestinian.

The airstrike marks the latest incident in more than a year of escalating violence, with repeated Israeli military attacks and growing violence of settlers in the occupied West Bank amid a spate of Palestinian street attacks targeting Israelis. More than 90 Palestinians and at least 19 Israelis and foreigners have been killed since January.

Regarding the latest attack, COGAT, a unit at Israel's Ministry of Defense coordinating civil affairs with Palestine said two crossings with Gaza were closed for entry and exit of people and goods until further notice.

To anticipate rocket fire in response to the killings, the Israeli military issued special instructions for Israelis living in cities within 40 kilometers of Gaza, including to remain near bomb protection sites from 2:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday to 18:00 p.m. on Thursday.