Nine Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrike

Sharply escalating its military campaign, Israel dropped a quarter-ton bomb on a Gaza home today to assassinate top Hamas fugitives, killing nine civilians as Islamic militant leaders got away.

The nine dead were all members of the same family, including the parents and seven of their children, Palestinian officials said.

The body of a four-year-old boy, torn in half, was among those pulled out of the rubble.

Israel has been conducting a large-scale military offensive in Gaza, which borders southern Israel, since Hamas militants captured a soldier.

The campaign’s declared aim is to force Hamas militants to turn over the captured Israeli soldier and to halt ongoing rocket fire on southern Israel.

Today’s aerial attack in Gaza City was bound to intensify international criticism of Israel.

The United Nations has already complained about what it said was disproportionate use of Israeli force in the Gaza operation.

The Israeli military said Mohammed Deif, the leader of the Hamas military wing and No.1 on Israel’s wanted list for more than a decade, was wounded in the 2.30am (local time) airstrike, but it didn’t know how badly.