Israel killed at least three Palestinians, including two children, in heavy bombardment on Gaza City Tuesday when its troops launched a ground assault to seize a senior Hamas member.
Eyewitnesses reported around a dozen strikes Tuesday morning in western Gaza City, where the territory's civil defense agency said three people were killed.
Eight people were also wounded, according to the civil defense, while Gaza City's al-Shifa Hospital confirmed it had received the bodies and the wounded.
The raid for a Hamas member in Gaza City was discovered during the operation Tuesday, prompting airstrikes to cover their withdrawal, Gaza officials said.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said a senior Hamas member had been arrested, while Hamas official Ismail al-Thawabta said an Israeli special force had tried to carry out an operation in Gaza City before being detected.
