Gaza/Jerusalem: Intensifying its targeted assassinations of militants, Israel's air force today bombed a house in Gaza killing three senior Hamas commanders among 19 Palestinians on the 45th day of the deadly conflict.

The three field commanders killed, Mohammed Abu Shamala, Mohammed Barhoum and Raed al-Attar, were key to Hamas operations including smuggling, tunnel construction and also played a role in capturing Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006, who was later released in a swap deal. They died in the attack near the southern town of Rafah, sources in Gaza said.