By IRNA,
Gaza City : Casualties exceeded 155 swiftly after Israeli F-16 bombers attacked Gaza City.
At least 200 people have also been wounded after Israel fired around 30 missiles into the densely populated areas of the city.
Children, women and young cadets are among the dead.
Hamas has already responded by firing rockets into Israel, and one Israeli has been killed in the retaliatory strikes.
A statement from Islamic Jihad said: “All fighters are ordered to respond to the Israeli slaughter.”
One police compound was hosting a graduation ceremony for new personnel when it was attacked.
IRNA reporter in Gaza City said that the air strikes took place as children were leaving school.
Hamas said that Israeli F-16 bombers hit some 40 targets across the territory.
The air strikes are the most intense Israel has launched against Gaza for some time, and come amid rumours that a ground operation is imminent.
“Hamas will continue with the resistance until the last drop of blood,” spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said on Gaza City radio.
Mosques issued urgent appeals for people to donate blood and authorities in Gaza City said that hospitals were soon full.
Egypt opened its border crossing to the Gaza Strip at Rafah to absorb and treat some of those injured in the south of the territory.
Most of the dead and injured were said to be in Gaza City.
The head of Gaza’s police forces, Tawfik Jaber, was reportedly among those killed.