More than 307 Palestinians, including 51 civilians, have been killed in three days of strikes in Gaza. Israel’s defense minister said the goal of the Gaza operation is to “stop Hamas from attacking our citizens and soldiers.” Unconfirmed reports indicate the commander of Hamas’s armed wing, Izaddin Kassam may have been killed in a strike. Hamas and allied groups launched 50 rockets into southern Israel; one civilian was killed and 14 more were wounded in a Grad rocket strike in Ashkelon.
