GAZA, July 12: Israel killed nine members of one Palestinian family in an air strike on Gaza on Wednesday that destroyed a three-storey residential building where top Hamas commanders were believed to be meeting.

The air strike was among a series of attacks that killed a total of 23 Palestinians as Israeli forces swept into central Gaza on Wednesday, broadening an offensive aimed at freeing a captured soldier and halting cross-border rocket fire.

The air raid killed a local Hamas leader, Nabil Abu Selmeya, his wife and seven sons and daughters aged 7 to 19, medics said. Selmeya’s eldest son who was not at home survived, they added.

Israel’s military said the attack wounded Mohammad Deif, leader of the governing Hamas movement’s armed wing. The Hamas armed wing denied Deif had been hurt and vowed a “tough and painful” response to a strike that also wounded 35 people.

Palestinian militant groups in Gaza and the occupied West Bank welcomed the latest abductions. Islamic Jihad activists distributed sweets to passersby in Gaza’s streets to celebrate.

Israel’s army said Deif had been in the Gaza building and was targeted because intelligence information showed he and other senior Hamas commanders were planning attacks.

“We know he was injured, but not to what degree,” said an army spokeswoman.—Reuters