Special to WorldTribune.com

GAZA CITY — Israel has again targeted the commander of Hamas’ military.

Israel Air Force fighter-jets struck the home of Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. The air strike on late Aug. 19 was said to have killed at least two members of Deif’s family in the southern Gaza Strip city of Dir Al Balah.

“The wife of the great leader was martyred with his daughter,” Hamas deputy chief Mussa Abu Marzouk said.

Abu Marzouk did not disclose whether Deif was injured in the Israeli strike. The Hamas chief is said to have survived at least 10 Israeli assassination attempts over the last 15 years.

“The occupation will pay for its crimes against Palestinian civilians and those living around the Gaza border will not return home until Mohammed Deif so decides,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.

The Israeli military said it also targeted Hamas rocket commander Mohammed Dalu. Army Radio reported an air strike on a Gaza City house in which the 50-year-old Dalu was believed to have been staying.

On Aug. 21, Hamas’ Izzedin Kassam military wing acknowledged that three senior commanders were killed in an Israeli air strike in the southern city of Rafah. They were identified as Mohammed Abu Shamala, Raed Atar and Mohammed Barhoum, Abu Shamala and Atar were regarded as directing Hamas’ rocket attacks as well as operations from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

The Israeli air strikes were ordered after Hamas renewed missile and rocket fire on the Jewish state. Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired nearly 200 rockets into Israel and struck Beersheba and Tel Aviv.

“If Israel was behind the attack [Deif], then it was a step in the right direction,” Science Minister Yaakov Peri, a former Israeli intelligence chief, said.

  Gaza Strip, Israel fails in 10th attempt to take out Hamas military chief, Mohammed Deif, Mussa Abu Marzouk