BEIT HANOUN, Gaza, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- A senior commander of a Palestinian militant group was reportedly killed in an Israeli air strike in northern Gaza Saturday.
Sources told CNN the dead commander was in charge of making bombs for the Izzedin al-Qassam Brigades. Two people in the car with him were injured.
Also Saturday, Palestinian security sources said four Palestinians were killed in a sniper attack in Beit Hanoun, CNN said. Israeli Defense Forces confirmed the air strike but did not confirm the sniper report.
Eight Palestinians, including civilians, died Friday in four Israeli air strikes aimed at halting attacks being launched by militants in Gaza, CNN said.
Friday's violence spilled into a mosque, where authorities said Israeli soldiers opened fire after learning Palestinian militants were mingling in the crowd, some dressing in women's clothing, CNN said. The number and identities of those killed and wounded was unclear.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh called on the international community stop the Israeli operation.
U.N. officials, including Secretary-General Kofi Annan, called on both sides to exercise restraint and protect civilians. Annan also urged Palestinians to cease firing rockets against Israeli civilian targets.
