Israeli air strikes have killed at least 27 people across Gaza since the launch of its offensive to stop Hamas-led rocket attacks. <br /><br />The toll includes the death of a top local jihadist leader as well as some of his family according to Palestinian neighbours. Several children are also said to have died in Israeli drone strikes.<br /><br />In the continuing cycle of violence Hamas militants fired yet more rockets at Israeli cities targeting Jerusalem late on Tuesday night. <br /><br />Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system has been in action, intercepting 29 rockets although over a hundred more have struck Israel according to its military.<br /><br />Tensions spiked last week with the murder of three young Israelis in the occupied West Bank and a Palestinian teenager in Jerusalem.<br /><br />Israel says Hamas was behind the abductions and murder of the Israeli youths – a claim it denies.<br /><br />Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned he may send ground troops into Gaza to stop the rocket fire. Forty-thousand military reservists are being called up to add to hundreds already drafted.<br />The Israeli leader blamed the militant wing of Hamas for any civilian deaths, accusing them of hiding among innocent citizens.<br /><br />With attack and counter attack showing no signs of stopping Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has demanded Israel immediately stop any further strikes and has appealed for calm.
