Shortly after the attack on Tuesday morning that killed Bahaa Abu al-Ata and his wife, salvos of rockets were launched from Palestinian groups in the besieged Gaza Strip into  Israel. 

In response to the rocket barrage, dozens of air raids were launched on Gaza. Overall, 24 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli bombardment in Gaza, according to health officials.

Separately, Syrian state media said a separate missile attack on Tuesday hit the home of Islamic Jihad official Akram al-Ajouri in Damascus, killing two people including one of his sons. Syria said Israel carried out the Damascus attack. Israel did not comment.

Here are the latest updates:

Wednesday, November 13

Defence minister: Israel 'will hunt down every terrorist'

Israel's new defence minister said the country will not hesitate to target more members of the Islamic Jihad group.

"Over the past 24 hours the Jihad Islamic terrorists shot over 250 rockets and missiles on Israelis," Naftali Bennett said.

"Israeli security forces will hunt down every terrorist, until our children are secure and safe," he added. 

Dozens of houses damaged by Israeli strikes 

Officials in Gaza said more than 50 air raids and 21 artillery attacks targeted Palestinian homes, agricultural lands, poultry and vegetable farms, as well as positions belonging to the "resistance", Maan News Agency reported.

The enclave's information ministry put the total number of housing units damaged at 48 - some of which were "totally destroyed".

Two Palestinians killed in new Israeli air raid

Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for Gaza's health ministry, said two Palestinians have been killed in an air raid that targeted Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. 

One Palestinian has been injured, he added. 

People carry the body of a 38-year-old Khalid Faraj, who was killed in an Israeli air raid, during his funeral procession in Deir al Balah [Hassan Jedi /Anadolu]

UN mediator in Cairo for de-escalation talks

Egyptian officials said Nickolay Mladenoy, a United Nations Middle East envoy, arrived in Cairo to lead de-escalation efforts.

The officials cited by news agencies said Mladenoy landed from Tel Aviv and was scheduled to meet Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi.

22 Palestinians killed, 69 wounded

Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for Gaza's health ministry, said at least 22 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air raids since the start of the latest escalation on Tuesday morning. 

At least 69 others were wounded, he added. 

A Palestinian man, stained with the blood of his relative, is comforted as he reacts at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City [Mohammed Salem/Reuters]

Palestinian Authority condemns Israeli attacks

A spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, said the "Israeli escalation" must immediately stop, Wafa news agency reported.

Abbas is exerting efforts to stop the escalation, Nabil Abu Rudeineh said in a statement.

He called on the international community to immediately intervene to pressure Israel to stop its "continued aggression", and to respect international law, Wafa added.

Palestinian women sit on debris after Israeli airstrikes hit their homes in Khan Yunis, Gaza [Ali Jadallah /Anadolu]

Netanyahu warns Israel prepared to step up attacks

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was prepared to keep bombarding Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza as long as rocket fire continued. 

"They have one choice: to stop these attacks or absorb more and more blows. Their choice," Netanyahu said in remarks made during a cabinet meeting.