(Gaza death toll over 50,000 as Israel kills Hamas leader

Palestinian officials have put the death toll from nearly 18 months of conflict at more than 50,000, as an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza killed a Hamas political leader.

- NIDAL AL-MUGHRABI

Salah alBardaweel was killed yesterday, the militant group said.

The death toll comes after two months of relative calm in the war. Gazans have once again been fleeing for their lives after Israel effectively abandoned a ceasefire by launching a new allout air and ground campaign on Tuesday against Hamas.

Explosions echoed throughout the north, central and southern Gaza Strip early yesterday, as Israeli planes hit several targets in those areas, in what witnesses said was an escalation of the attacks that began earlier in the week.

At least 30 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli strikes on Rafah and Khan Younis yesterday, health authorities said. Those killed included three municipal employees, medics said. Hamas said the airstrike on Khan Younis killed Bardaweel and his wife. Israeli officials had no immediate comment.