GAZA: Death toll from escalating violence in Gaza rose to 29, as well as killing of a senior commander of a Palestinian armed group, as Israel extended its bombardment of territory for a second consecutive day.

In a statement, Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement (PIJ) confirmed killing of one of its senior armed commanders in an Israeli air strike on Gaza Strip.

Al-Quds Brigades (Jerusalem Brigades) mourns leader Khaled Mansour, member of security council and commander of southern region (of Gaza Strip) who was martyred as a result of an Israeli air strike yesterday (Saturday),” group said in statement.

Meanwhile, updated count from health authorities in Hamas-run territory said six children were among those killed since start of “Israeli aggression” on Friday, in addition to 204 people injured.

But Israel said it had “irrefutable” evidence that a stray rocket from militants had been responsible for death of multiple children in Jabalia, northern Gaza on Saturday.

It was not immediately clear how many children were killed in incident in Jabalia.

An AFP photographer saw six bodies at an area hospital, including three minors.

Israel’s military has warned its aerial and artillery campaign against Palestinian armed group could last a week, but Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Cairo is talking “around clock” with both sides to ease violence.

Israel has said it was necessary to launch a “pre-emptive” operation against group as it was planning an imminent attack following days of tensions along border with Gaza.

Civilians meanwhile took refuge in air raid shelters on Israeli side, with AFP journalists hearing sirens warning of incoming fire in Tel Aviv area on Saturday evening.

Censuring attacks, Pakistan Foreign Office had said latest spate of aggression was “typical of Israeli atrocities, illegal actions and indiscriminate use of force against innocent Palestinians over decades in complete defiance of international human rights and humanitarian laws”.

FO had called upon the international community to urge Israel to put an immediate end to “blatant use of force and flagrant violations of human rights”, adding that it was “imperative” to immediately stop aggression.