IAF strikes senior Hamas, Islamic Jihad commanders

The Israel Air Force conducted dozens of sorties over the Gaza Strip on the third day of Israel's military operations. Forty Palestinians were killed in yesterday's actions, bringing the total number of casualties since the operation began Saturday to 350. At least 51 of the dead were civilians.

A great deal of yesterday's actions were directed against rocket-launching teams, particularly in the northern part of the Strip. However, poor weather hampered efforts to pinpoint targets and Hamas managed to launch more than 60 rockets. One Israeli was killed and 10 were injured during the attacks.

Yesterday afternoon the air force hit a Hamas truck carrying dozens of Grad missiles in the Jabalya refugee camp north of Gaza City. The Israel Defense Force said Hamas activists were attempting to bring the rockets to a new hiding place out of concern the previous place had been identified.

The air force directed some of its attacks against the homes of activists in the military wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. At least two leading figures were killed in these attacks, however five young sisters also died.

Also, seven people were killed in the IAF bombardment of the house of a senior Hamas military leader in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. According to eye-witnesses, the dead were from surrounding houses. A mosque was also hit and a nearby house was severely damaged with five women being killed.

Israel also bombed the Islamic University in Gaza. Israeli sources say the university's labs, where Hamas prepared weapons, incurred heavy damage.

The navy also took part in yesterday's operations, bombarding and destroying a Hamas police station in the Shati refugee camp. Late Sunday or early Monday a home in Shati was targeted that is near the home of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. There were no injuries. The Hamas ministry of culture was also bombarded.

Despite the bombardments, Israel continued to allow limited quantities of humanitarian aid to enter the Strip through international aid groups. Sixty-three aid trucks went through the Kerem Shalom crossing yesterday and approximately 100 trucks are expected to cross today with essential items.

Defense Minister Ehud Barark said yesterday that if Hamas rocket-fire did not stop immediately: "Israel will make use of all legal means at its disposal to cause the enemy to stop its aggression against its citizens."