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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 has been killed during a series of Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip. | The head of the military wing of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has been killed during a series of Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip. |
| Ahmed Said Khalil al-Jabari and another Hamas official died when the car they were travelling in was hit in Gaza City. | Ahmed Said Khalil al-Jabari and another Hamas official died when the car they were travelling in was hit in Gaza City. |
| It was part of a wider 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. |
| It follows a wave of rocket attacks against Israel from the territory. | It follows a wave of rocket attacks against Israel from the territory. |
| Outside the hospital where Mr Jabari's body was taken, thousands of angry Gaza residents chanted "retaliation" and "We want you to hit Tel Aviv tonight", according to the Associated Press news agency. | Outside the hospital where Mr Jabari's body was taken, thousands of angry Gaza residents chanted "retaliation" and "We want you to hit Tel Aviv tonight", according to the Associated Press news agency. |
| Gaza's interior ministry said a further four Palestinians had died in the attacks across Gaza. | Gaza's interior ministry said a further four Palestinians had died in the attacks across Gaza. |
| A number of injured civilians, including a badly burned young child, were seen being taken to hospital in Gaza City. | A number of injured civilians, including a badly burned young child, were seen being taken to hospital in Gaza City. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Before Wednesday's operation, six Palestinians had been killed in the ensuing Israeli military strikes on the Gaza Strip in response. | Before Wednesday's operation, six Palestinians had been killed in the ensuing Israeli military strikes on the Gaza Strip in response. |
| Israeli Defence Force (IDF) spokeswoman Lt Col Avital Leibovich said Mr Jabari had "a lot of blood on his hands". | Israeli Defence Force (IDF) spokeswoman Lt Col Avital Leibovich said Mr Jabari had "a lot of blood on his hands". |
| She 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. | She 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. |
| 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 al-Shifa hospital. | 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 al-Shifa 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. | 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. | 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. | Israel will say Hamas had it coming. Palestinians will see it a major provocation. The fears here are it could provoke another war. |
| "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. | "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. |
| On its Twitter feed, the Israeli military said the operation could be escalated further. "All options are on the table. If necessary, the IDF is ready to initiate a ground operation in Gaza," it said. | On its Twitter feed, the Israeli military said the operation could be escalated further. "All options are on the table. If necessary, the IDF is ready to initiate a ground operation in Gaza," it said. |
| 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 said he had been 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. |
| Hamas spokesman Abu Zuhri said: "Israel will regret the moment they even thought of doing this." | Hamas spokesman Abu Zuhri said: "Israel will regret the moment they even thought of doing this." |
| Saeb Erekat of the Palestinian Authority, which governs the separate West Bank territory, condemned the assassination "in the strongest terms". | Saeb Erekat of the Palestinian Authority, which governs the separate West Bank territory, condemned the assassination "in the strongest terms". |
| "We hold Israel fully responsible for the consequences of this new act of aggression," he added. | "We hold Israel fully responsible for the consequences of this new act of aggression," he added. |
| Israel has killed several senior Hamas figures in similar operations, including the movement's founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, in 2004. | 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 mosques broadcast the news of Mr Jabari's death. | 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 a major escalation of violence between Hamas and Israel, he adds. | There are fears the attack could lead to a major escalation of violence between Hamas and Israel, he adds. |
| Following the Israeli strikes, neighbouring Egypt's foreign ministry issued a strongly critical statement. | Following the Israeli strikes, neighbouring Egypt's foreign ministry issued a strongly critical statement. |
| "Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr condemned the series of air strikes that Israel is currently conducting against Gaza Strip and which led to the killing of Ahmed al-Jabari," it said. | |
| "He called on Israel to stop its strikes on Gaza Strip immediately." | |
| The BBC's Kevin Connolly, in Cairo, says Egypt's reaction to events in Gaza will be followed closely. | |
| It is the first time violence has reached this pitch of intensity since the events of the Arab Spring brought to power a president drawn from the ranks of the Muslim Brotherhood, the same organisation in which Hamas has its roots. | |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for an "immediate de-escalation of tensions". | |
| The British Foreign Office issued a statement saying: "We continue to call on all sides to exercise restraint to prevent a dangerous escalation that would be in no-one's interests." | The British Foreign Office issued a statement saying: "We continue to call on all sides to exercise restraint to prevent a dangerous escalation that would be in no-one's interests." |
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