CRI听力:Israeli Airstrikes Target Hamas Military Chief: Report

A member of the Israeli cabinet has all-but-confirmed the Israeli airforce directly targeted the head of Hamas' military wing.

Ya'akov Perry, cabinet minister and former head of Israel's internal security service Shin Bet, has told an Israeli media outlet that Mohammed Deif is a "legitimate target."

Perry also suggests this should be a sign to Hamas leaders that they are not immune.

Deif's home in Gaza was reportedly hit by an Israeli airstrike last night.

Rabah Al-Dalou, the owner of the house, says some of Deif's family members are still buried in the rubble.

"I have some family members missing: my wife, and my two sons, also a girl and a boy are missing from the neighbours' family, they are still under the rubble and haven't been removed yet."

It's still unclear at this point if Deif survived the attack.

The Israeli military isn't commenting.

Mohammed Deif has been the head of Hamas' military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, since 1996.

Israel has accused him of being the mastermind behind several attacks against Israelis, including the kidnapping and murder of an Israeli soldier.

The new Israeli assaults come after Palestinian negotiators walked away from talks with Israel, ending immediate hopes of a long-term ceasefire in Gaza.

The Egyptian-mediated talks have failed to extend a 24-hour truce agreed to on Monday.

Azzam al-Ahmad is the head of the Palestinian delegation.

"We have informed the Egyptian side, in a few hours we are leaving Cairo as a Palestinian delegation, but we consider the negotiations to be over. When the Egyptian moderators see that the time and environment is good to resume negotiations, after receiving a response to our proposal, we are ready to return."

Al-Ahmad says that until Israel responds to the proposals put forward by the Palestinians, there will be no more negotiating.

But even before the truce had expired, rockets from Gaza began coming down on Israel.

Israel says about 50 rockets were fired from Gaza on Tuesday and another 20 on Wednesday.

As a response, Israeli airstrikes have resumed across the strip, with at least 10 people dead so far.

Israel's security cabinet is due to discuss the renewed violence later on this Wednesday.