A total of 40 fighter jets participated in bombing different locations in the besieged enclave just after 2 am local time on Tuesday, according to the Israeli military.
The Palestinian health ministry said four children, four women and dentist were among those killed. Another 20 people were wounded, including three children and seven women, some of whom are in serious and critical condition, MiddleEast Eye reported.
PIJ said three of its commanders were killed in the air attacks and pledged to “avenge” the deaths. The deceased were identified as Jihad al-Ghannam, Khalil al-Bahtini, and Tariq Izz al-Deen.
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement that “assassinating the leadership in a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but instead greater resistance”.
Last week, Israeli missiles pounded Gaza following rockets fired towards Israeli territory in the aftermath of the death of Palestinian writer Khader Adnan in an Israeli prison. Adnan, an activist affiliated with the PIJ, died after nearly three months on hunger strike.
