In Pictures: Israel strikes Gaza

Israel has assassinated Ahmad Jabari, the top Hamas military commander, in an airstike on Wednesday. Hamas has launched over 120 rockets into southern Israel in response to Israeli airstrikes over the past four days, killing three and wounding others.

Hamas officials say at least two Hamas training facilities were among the targets in a series of Israeli bombings carried out shortly after the killing of Jabari. The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas headed by Jabari, issued a communique after his assassination saying Israel had "opened the gates of hell".

Palestinian firemen tackle a blaze at a destroyed Hamas site. Wednesday(***)s strikes came after five days of rising tensions along the Gaza border, which began on Saturday when Palestinian fighters fired an anti-tank rocket at an army jeep, sparking Israeli fire.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, left, and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu address the media at the defence ministry in Tel Aviv on Wednesday. Israel sent a "clear message" to Hamas through the killing of its top military commander, and is ready to "expand" its operation in Gaza if necessary, Netanyahu said.

Palestinians inspect their home next to a destroyed Hamas site.

Egyptians chant slogans against the latest Israel airstrikes in Gaza during a protest in Cairo on Wednesday. Egypt has recalled its ambassador to Israel after an Israeli airstrike killed the military commander of Gaza(***)s ruling Hamas.

A Palestinian boy pushes his bicycle through the rubble in an area targeted by Israeli air attacks in Gaza City.

A picture taken from the southern Israeli town of Sderot shows smoke billowing from a spot targeted by the Israeli military inside the Gaza Strip on Thursday. The UN Security Council held a late night emergency meeting to discuss the escalating tension in the region.

Palestinian mourners carry the body of Jabari during his funeral in Gaza City. At least 13 other Palestinians have been killed in recent fighting.

A rocket is seen after its launch from the northern Gaza Strip heading towards Israel. Armed groups had fired more than 250 rockets from Gaza as of Thursday afternoon, according to Israeli authorities.

A volunteer collects clothes with blood stains in an apartment building that was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, which killed three people in Kiryat Malachi, southern Israel.

Palestinian mourners carry the body of Ranan Arafat, 4, during her funeral in Gaza City. At least 100 have been wounded, according to medical officials.