The Israeli army expanded the scope of its air, land and naval attacks on Gaza Strip on Thursday while Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said it launched a missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
The Israeli warplanes launched up to 60 strikes on suspected missile launch pads and militant training camps in Gaza, according to a military spokesperson.
The Israeli army will continue the operation in Gaza until calm is back in Israel and the missile firing ceases, the spokesperson told Israel Radio.
The military and political leaders of Hamas are legitimate targets of the operation, the spokesperson said, echoing the remarks made yesterday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Palestinian medical sources said the Israeli attacks claimed up to 33 lives today and injured 106 others.
The victims, mainly civilians, include many children and women, the sources said, noting that today's casualties took the number of victims of the 46-day aggression on Gaza to 2,78 deaths and 10,345 wounded.
In retaliation, Al-Qassam and other Palestinian resistance groups fired dozens of M-75 missiles into several cities and Jewish settlements across Israel.
Sounds of alarm sirens coincided with the sounds of huge explosions in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beersheba and Ashkelon as well as the settlements of Modi'in Illit, Beit El and Nahal Oz.
Commenting on the serious escalation of the conflict, Hamas Spokesman Sami Abu-Zuhri said the decision to postpone the opening of the Israel soccer league testifies to the failure of Netanyahu's government to ensure security for the Israelis.
"The atrocities being committed by the Israeli army against the Palestinians, including the targeted killings, came to no avail," the spokesman said in a statement tonight, affirming that the resistance groups have the final say in the confrontation.