Violence is on the rise across a span of territory covering southern Israel and the southern Gaza Strip today, after a series of attacks inside Israel left eight Israelis dead and Israeli warplanes attacked targets within Gaza killing several more. Five people in Egypt, all members of security forces, were also slain at the border.

Israel said the original attacks were coordinated by the Gaza-based Popular Resistance Committees, and responded by bombing an office of the organization. The leader and five others were reportedly killed. After Gazans fired rockets toward Israeli cities, Israel blamed Hamas and bombed Hamas facilities. Hamas says two children aged 3 and 13 were killing in the strikes.