An Israeli airstrike killed a Hamas political leader in Gaza, and the Israeli military has mobilized more ground forces for possible activity in the Palestinian enclave. After two months of relative calm, Israel launched a new all-out air and ground campaign against Hamas. The military confirmed the killing of the Hamas official and said that one of its divisions that had operated in Lebanon was preparing for possible action in Gaza. Explosions were heard throughout the Gaza Strip as Israeli planes escalated their attacks. The death toll from the conflict has been put at over 50,000 by Palestinian officials.