Gazan health officials said children were killed by the Israeli airstrikes, though not confirmed by the military. According to the IDF, at least 200 rockets fired from Gaza landed within the Gaza Strip, suggesting they also caused casualties among Palestinians.

"The full responsibility for the people that were injured and killed in this operation and for this conflict in Gaza lies in the hands of Hamas," said Lior Haiat, spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Four Israeli civilians were killed during the latest hostilities, while an Israeli soldier was killed early Wednesday in an anti-tank missile attack on a military patrol on the Gaza border.

"Israel is under a coordinated and planned attack targeting civilians all over the country," said Haiat. "This is aggression on its sovereignty and its citizens."