UPDATE 2 – 13 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza

UPDATES DEATH TOLL, CHANGES HEADLINE, EDITS THROUGH

By Hamdi Yildiz and Muhammed Semiz

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – The Palestinian death toll from Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip rose to 13, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

A ministry statement added the fatalities included four children and four women, while 20 people were also injured in the attacks.

In a statement, the al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad movement, said three members of its leadership and their wives and children were also killed in the strikes.

They included the group's senior leader Tareq Izzeldeen, commander Khalil Bahitini and Jihad Ghannam, the secretary-general of the group's military council.

“All options and scenarios are open to the resistance forces to respond to the crimes of the occupation forces,” Islamic Jihad spokesperson Tariq Selmi said in a statement.

"The resistance will not stop until the occupation is over," said Selmi, vowing that the group "will avenge the martyred leaders."

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh echoed Selmi’s statement, saying Israel made a mistake in its operation and will pay the price.

"The assassination of the leaders through a treacherous operation will not provide security for the occupation (Israel) itself. On the contrary, it will further increase the resistance," said Haniyeh.

The Israeli army said it struck a number of Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza as part of its Operation Shield and Arrow in response to rocket fire from Gaza following the death of a Palestinian hunger striker in an Israeli prison last week.

*Writing by Servet Gunerigok