Israeli strikes on Gaza kill three Islamic Jihad leaders, 10 others

SpaceWar.com reports: “Israeli air strikes on Gaza before dawn Tuesday killed three Islamic Jihad militant group leaders and 10 others, including several children, officials in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory said.

Islamic Jihad vowed to ‘avenge’ the deaths in the raid involving some 40 Israeli aircraft, which hit targets in the crowded coastal territory for nearly two hours from just after 2:00 am (2300 GMT Monday).

The Gaza health ministry said four children were among those killed and 20 people were wounded, with some in critical condition, in the attacks which left buildings ablaze and reduced others to rubble.

The Israeli army said it had targeted three leaders of Islamic Jihad, which it considers a terrorist group, as well as its ‘weapon manufacturing sites’.

Asked about child casualties, army spokesman Richard Hecht said: ‘If there were some tragic deaths, we’ll look into it.’

Islamic Jihad confirmed the deaths of three senior members — Jihad Ghannam, Khalil al-Bahtini and Tareq Ezzedine — before their bodies were later carried through the streets in mass funeral processions…”

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