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Israeli air strike kills Hamas military chief Jabari Israeli air strike kills Hamas military chief Jabari
(35 minutes later)
The head of the military wing of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, Ahmed Said Khalil al-Jabari, has been killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza City. The head of the military wing of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, Ahmed Said Khalil al-Jabari, has been killed during a series of Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip.
He and another senior Hamas official died when the car they were travelling in was hit. He and another senior Hamas official died when the car they were travelling in was hit in Gaza City.
It appears to have been the first step of an Israeli operation against militant groups in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. It was part of a wider Israeli operation against militant groups in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.
A series of air strikes are now being reported across Gaza. It follows a wave of rocket attacks against Israel from the territory.
The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said it had launched "Operation Cloud Pillar" against Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other militant groups. Israeli Defence Force (IDF) spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Avital Leibovich told BBC News that "close to 20" sites in Gaza had been targeted in a "limited" operation, with the strikes aiming to destroy rocket-firing capabilities.
In recent days, Israeli officials had said they were considering assassinating senior figures in Hamas following a wave of heavy rocket-fire. "The operation against Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other organisations has two goals: to protect Israeli civilians and target the terror capability of these organisations," she added.
Militants in Gaza have fired more than 110 rockets towards southern Israel since Saturday, when four soldiers were wounded in an anti-tank missile attack on an Israeli army jeep.
Across Gaza there's anger. There's the sound of gunfire. The news is being broadcast from mosques. There are chaotic scenes at the city's hospital.
Ahmed Jabari was one of Hamas's most senior figures. He was 46 years old and the head of the movement's military wing, the al- Qassam brigades.
He was hit by an air strike as he travelled in a car through the centre of Gaza City. At least one other senior Hamas figure is thought to have died.
Israel will say Hamas had it coming. Palestinians will see it a major provocation. The fears here are it could provoke another war.
Before Wednesday's operation, six Palestinians had been killed in the ensuing Israeli military strikes on the Gaza Strip in response.
Mr Jabari, who was 46, is the most senior Hamas official to be killed in the Gaza Strip since the major Israeli offensive four years ago.Mr Jabari, who was 46, is the most senior Hamas official to be killed in the Gaza Strip since the major Israeli offensive four years ago.
Israel's Shin Bet security service confirmed he had been targeted, saying he was responsible for "all terrorist activities against Israel from Gaza" in the last decade. Israel's Shin Bet security service said he had been responsible for "all terrorist activities against Israel from Gaza" in the last decade.
"Jabari was responsible for financing and directing military operations and attacks against Israel. His elimination today is a message to Hamas officials in Gaza that if they continue promoting terrorism against Israel, they will be hurt," it said."Jabari was responsible for financing and directing military operations and attacks against Israel. His elimination today is a message to Hamas officials in Gaza that if they continue promoting terrorism against Israel, they will be hurt," it said.
'Heinous crime' Hamas spokesman Abu Zuhri said: "Israel will regret the moment they even thought of doing this."
Since Saturday, four Palestinian civilians and three militants, including Mr Jabari, have been killed in Gaza, and dozens injured. Eight Israelis have also been hurt. Saeb Erekat of the Palestinian Authority, which governs the separate West Bank territory, condemned "in the strongest terms".
Hamas spokesman Taher Anunu told BBC Arabic: "This was a heinous crime that will have repercussions. "We hold Israel fully responsible for the consequences of this new act of aggression," he added.
"The Palestinian government will call for the trial of those responsible for the crime, and for hitting a civilian area, but the Palestinian factions have the right to respond in a way they see fit." Israel has killed several senior Hamas figures in similar operations, including the movement's founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, in 2004.
The BBC's Jon Donnison in Gaza City says the sound of gunfire echoed through the streets after Wednesday's air strike which killed Mr Jabari. The BBC's Jon Donnison in Gaza City says the sound of gunfire echoed through the streets after mosques broadcast the news of Mr Jabari's death.
There are fears the attack could lead to another war, he adds. There are fears the attack could lead to a major escalation of violence between Hamas and Israel, he adds.
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