A leading Islamic militant has been killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip.
According to the Israeli military, Ali Ghali, a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, was one of 24 killed, two of which were other senior militants, following the attack on the Khan Younis complex on Thursday.
Palestinian media reported that the strikes targeted the top floor of a building at the residential, Qatari-built complex in southern Gaza Strip, killing at least two senior Islamic militants and the commander.
The attack came after reports of failed peace talks between the two sides after missiles hit central and southern Israel as well as Gaza on Wednesday
In a prime-time TV address on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Israel had dealt a harsh blow to the militants but cautioned: “This round is not over.
“We say to the terrorists and those who send them. We see you everywhere. You can’t hide, and we choose the place and time to strike you.”
“Any terrorist who harms Israeli citizens will be made to regret it,” said Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
It identified killed militants as Khalil Bahtini, the Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza Strip; Tareq Izzeldeen, the group’s intermediary between its Gaza and West Bank members; and Jehad Ghanam, the secretary of the Islamic Jihad’s military council.
Separately, Israeli TV stations showed air defence systems intercepting rockets above the skies of Tel Aviv and the military said that for the first time, an air-defence system known as David’s Sling had intercepted a rocket.
Israeli officials said over 400 rockets had been fired by Wednesday evening.
The army said that schools would remain closed and restrictions on large gatherings would remain in place in southern Israel until at least Friday.
