The aftermath of Israel's strike on Hamas leader Mohammed Shaaban. Photo: Screenshot.

An air-to-ground missile fired by an Israeli aircraft targeted the head of Hamas’ naval commando unit in Gaza Tuesday afternoon.

Mohammed Shaaban and two other individuals travelling in a vehicle were killed in the air strike, according to Israel’s Channel 2 News.

There were no reports of anyone else killed in the strike, which apparently used a low-level charge which left another vehicle nearby unscathed.

“Since (Sunday) night, Hamas has fired over 100 rockets at Israeli civilians. No nation would accept this threat, neither will we,” an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Twitter feed update read.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday instructed the IDF to prepare for an “extended” operation that Defense Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon said would likely take “more than a few days.”

“If you make the mistake of going into Gaza, it’ll make it easier to kidnap soldiers,” a Hamas statement said in response.

Some three million Israelis’ lives are affected by Gaza rockets, with tens of thousands within a 40-kilometer radius of the coastal enclave instructed to remain within a 15-second sprint to a bomb shelter or protected area.

A video clip of the destroyed vehicle can be seen below. (Warning: Graphic images.)