The Israeli military launched airstrikes against the Islamic Jihad armed group in Gaza on Tuesday, killing three of its leaders, ending an uneasy weeklong cease-fire between the two sides and leaving them braced for a sharp escalation in cross-border violence. Palestinian officials said that the airstrikes had killed at least 10 civilians, including children.

The pre-dawn strikes hit residential buildings across the Palestinian coastal territory of Gaza, roughly a week after an exchange of fire between Islamic Jihad and Israel.

Islamic Jihad, which Israel, the US and many other western countries classify as a terrorist organisation, confirmed that three of its senior leaders were among the dead. The Palestinian ministry of health in Gaza said that at least 13 people had been killed and 20 others injured. Among the dead were Dr Jamal Khiswan, a director of the Wafa Hospital in Gaza, and his wife and son, the ministry said.

Tensions in the region had been high after the death in Israeli custody last week of a Palestinian hunger striker who was a leader of Islamic Jihad. Violence has also been on the rise recently in Israel and the occupied West Bank. The death of the hunger striker, Khader Adnan, was followed by rockets fired at Israel from Gaza, and retaliatory strikes by the Israeli Air Force.

Members of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government pressed for a stronger response.

New York Times News Service