Fresh Israeli strikes bombed several sites in the Gaza Strip early Thursday leaving at least 16 people injured -- two in a critical condition

Fresh Israeli strikes bombed several sites in the Gaza Strip early Thursday leaving at least 16 people injured -- two in a critical condition, witnesses and security sources said.

An Israeli tank opened fire on a group of Palestinians in the east of Gaza City. The Islamic Jihad movement said that three of its members were injured by Israeli tanks firing from positions inside Gaza late Wednesday.

Separately, two other Palestinians were wounded by Israeli gunfire in Beit Lahiya.

And in yet another attack, Israeli drones targeted the east of Gaza City, injuring at least two people.

Also Wednesday a seven-year-old child was killed and two other people were wounded in an Israeli army explosion which also badly damaged a home in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, witnesses said.

Israeli F-16s as well as Apache fighter helicopters also hovered over the Gaza City, where witnesses reported two intensive explosions.

The Israeli military claimed in a statement it had "targeted a terrorist squad in the northern Gaza Strip, in the same location where rockets were fired towards the Israeli city of Beersheva."

Hamas said it has evacuated all its security posts, police stations and government buildings as it expects more Israeli attacks.

Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Sahlom said he saw Iran's in the surge of “violence”, trying to take advantage of the turmoil sweeping the region. "The rocket attack was a very grave act carried out by the agents of Iran, Hamas," he told public radio.