At least 13 Palestinians, including three Islamic Jihad commanders, have died as a result of Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.
According to Palestinian health officials, the fatalities included eight women and children. Twenty more victims suffered injuries.
According to Israel, it has started an operation to take out militants who are a direct threat to its population.
Islamic Jihad has pledged retribution, and militants in Gaza are anticipated to respond by firing rockets into Israel.
According to reports, Israeli officials are getting ready for days of combat.
Since three days of warfare between Israel and Islamic Jihad in August of last year, the strikes were the deadliest.
The most recent attacks occurred early on Tuesday morning when 40 Israeli airplanes and helicopters assaulted Gaza in waves, damaging homes and terrifying locals.
At least two apartments had their fronts torn off, and others were damaged, according to pictures.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, four mothers and four children were also murdered. Children and women made almost half of those hurt, and several of them were hospitalized in critical condition.
The previous chairman of the Gaza Dentists’ Association and a Russian citizen, Dr. Jamal Khuswan, along with his wife and kid were all assassinated, according to the Russian Embassy in the Palestinian Territories.
Another two of their children survived, it said. They included 10-year-old Diala, who was filmed sitting in the front seat of an ambulance and crying out for her dead father.
Mr Khuswan’s brother, Mohammed, said he was a very-well known dentist and that the family had been at their home when it was hit by a missile.
Palestinian sources said they lived next to one of the senior militants who was killed.
Islamic Jihad’s military wing, the al-Quds Brigades, confirmed the deaths of three of its commanders, along with their wives and a number of their children.