Several children, commander killed in Israeli attack on Gaza, raising death toll to 31
Second Islamic Jihad commander, more Palestinian children killed in Gaza Strip as Israel continues its attacks on the coastal enclave
A senior commander of a Palestinian armed group and six children have been killed in the Gaza Strip as Israeli jets continued their bombing of the besieged enclave.
In a statement on Sunday, Islamic Jihad confirmed that Khaled Mansour, its commander in the south of the Gaza Strip, had been killed in an Israeli raid on Saturday.
Mansour is the second high-ranking member of Islamic Jihad to be killed since Israel began attacking Gaza on Friday, when it assassinated the group's commander in the north, Taysir al-Jabari.
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Israel has warned that its campaign against Islamic Jihad could last a week, and its attacks on Gaza have destroyed apartment buildings and struck refugee camps, reports Al Jazeera.
At least four children were killed in a blast close to the Jabaliya refugee camp on Saturday, according to Hamas, the group that governs the Gaza Strip. It blamed Israel for the deaths, but the military denied any responsibility, saying the explosion was caused by a failed rocket launched by Islamic Jihad.
However, the claims could not be confirmed immediately.
The latest deaths bring the tally of children killed since Friday to six, and the total death toll among Palestinians to 31.
At least 260 others have also been wounded, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.
Palestinian fighters have responded to the bombings by launching more than 400 rockets at Israel. Most of the rockets were intercepted, and there have been no reports of serious casualties, according to the Israeli ambulance service.
Israeli calls for end to Gaza operation grow after 31 Palestinians death
Israel's Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz called for an end to the military operation in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported, quoting Israeli TV channel 13.
Israeli TV channel 12 also reported that Israeli officials were working with Egyptian mediators to reach a potential ceasefire.
Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet, has urged the Israeli security cabinet to end the military operation in Gaza.
There has been no official statement on the matter.
The violence has raised fears of another war on Gaza by Israel, just 15 months after a monthlong conflict that killed more than 260 people.
