At least 10 people have died as a result of Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip this Friday, including a top commander of a Palestinian militant group.
Local health officials said a young minor was among the dead, with more than 70 wounded.
Israel’s PM said the operation followed “an immediate threat” by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) after the arrest of one of its members early this week.
The PIJ fired more than 100 rockets into Israel “in an initial response.”
Most were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence shield, as sirens were heard in a number of Israeli cities.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it then resumed strikes late on Friday, targeting militant positions.
An Israeli military spokesman said the IDF was “assuming about 15” militants had been killed.
Israel’s Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked told Channel 12 News: “We don’t know how this will play out… but this could take time… This could be a lengthy round [of conflict] and a hard one.”
According to AFP, 19 Palestinian militants were arrested.
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