In the bloodiest combat in nine months, Palestinian terrorists in Gaza have fired around 300 rockets at Israel, while the Israeli military claims to have hit 50 Islamic Jihad targets.

According to local medics, six people have been killed and 45 have been injured in Gaza.

Several people were injured while racing to shelters in Israel, where most rockets were intercepted or fell in open areas.

It comes a day after Israeli strikes on Gaza killed 15 Palestinians, including three Islamic Jihad leaders.

Islamic Jihad, the territory’s second largest militant group behind Hamas, vowed to avenge their murders.

On Wednesday evening, Egyptian media reported that Egypt had brokered a ceasefire, although there was no instant confirmation from the two sides. Soon after, another rocket barrage was launched at southern Israel, as well as additional strikes in Gaza.

An umbrella organization representing Gaza’s armed factions has warned that “if Israel escalates its aggression, dark days await it.”

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, informed mayors that the country was “prepared for the possibility of a broader campaign and harsh strikes against Gaza.”

According to Palestinians, the fighting began with multiple loud explosions in southern Gaza, bringing up massive plumes of smoke.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), an aircraft targeted Islamic Jihad members who were traveling in a vehicle to a hidden rocket launcher in the Khan Younis region.

About an hour later, the IDF announced that it had begun hitting Islamic Jihad underground rocket launchers across the territory in order to disrupt planned strikes.

Palestinian media reported attacks in and around Gaza City, Rafah in the south, and Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun in the north.