'Over 150 dead' as Israeli strikes hit Gaza

Israeli aircraft struck Hamas security compounds across Gaza today in an unprecedented series of simultaneous strikes, killing 155 people and wounding many more, reports said citing medical officials.

In one of the Hamas compounds, bodies of more than a dozen uniformed security officers were seen lying on the ground. Among the dead was the Gaza police chief, Maj. Gen. Tawfiq Jaber, witnesses said.

Hamas quickly vowed to carry out revenge attacks on Israel in response to the air strikes, firing Qassam rockets into Israeli territory as an immediate reply.

At least one Israeli was killed by a rocket strike in the town of Netivot, the BBC quoted doctors as saying.

Israel confirmed it carried out a series of airstrikes on Hamas installations, but did not provide details.

Israel has warned in recent days it would strike back hard against continued rocket fire from Gaza on Israeli border towns. There was no sign of an Israel ground offensive, in parallel to the air attacks.

The first round of air strikes came just before noon, and several more waves followed.

Hamas security compounds are often located in civilian areas. The first air strikes took place as children were leaving school. Plumes of black smoke rose over Gaza City, sirens wailed through the streets and women frantically looked for their children.

One man sat in the middle of a Gaza City street, close to a security compound, alternately slapping his face and covering his head with dust from the bombed-out building.

“My son is gone, my son is gone,” wailed Sadi Masri, 57. The shopkeeper said he sent his son out to buy cigarettes minutes before the airstrikes began and now could not find him. “May I burn like the cigarettes, may Israel burn,” Masri moaned.

Civilians rushed to the targeted areas, trying to move the wounded in their cars to hospitals.

In the West Bank, Hamas’ rival, moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said in a statement that he “condemns this aggression” and called for restraint, according to an aide, Nabil Abu Rdeneh.

Israel has targeted Gaza in the past, but the number of simultaneous attacks was unprecedented.