Escalating Violence in Gaza: Israeli Air Strike Kills Missile Commander and Rockets Fired Towards Southern Israel.

An Israeli air strike on an apartment in Gaza has killed a top Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) commander and one other person. The PIJ confirmed that the head of its missile unit, Ali Hassan Ghali, had died in the attack. The Israeli military hit more than 130 militant targets in Gaza, in the heaviest fighting in nine months. Palestinian medical sources estimate the death toll from fighting this week is now at least 24, including three other PIJ commanders. The armed wing of the PIJ has sworn to avenge the deaths of Palestinians killed.