Israel says strike on Gaza house kills Islamic Jihad commander

Israel's military said on Thursday that an overnight strike in Gaza killed an Islamic Jihad commander of a rocket unit.

Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said Rasmi Abu Malhous was killed in a raid in the Gaza Strip's Deir al-Balah before a ceasefire took hold on Thursday morning.

Adraee alleged on Twitter he was a commander of a rocket unit.

Residents and relatives disputed that he was affiliated with Islamic Jihad, saying he had been a military police officer for the Palestinian Authority.

Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus told AFP: "He was an Islamic Jihad commander and he, like many others, have the tactic of hiding ammunition and military infrastructure in their own residence.

"Of course we try always to minimise the amount of non-combatants killed or injured," he added.

Palestinian officials say 34 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since Tuesday, including at least 18 militants.

They say eight children, including a pair of 7-year-olds, and three women were among the dead.

Gaza since 2007 experienced three devastating wars with Israel – in 2007, 2012 and 2014. The wars, along with a brutal 12 year blockade has left the besieged enclave devastated.