A civilian bringing food to Israeli soldiers near the Gaza border was the first Israeli killed by mortar fire from the Gaza Strip during Operation Protective Edge.

The 37-year-old man was pronounced dead upon arrival at Barzilai Medical Centre in Ashkelon on Tuesday afternoon; he had received emergency treatment in the field. He was visiting soldiers at the Erez border crossing when he was hit by mortar fire.

The CrownHeights.info news site identified the man as a Lubavitcher named Dor Chanin.

Around 200 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed during the first eight days of the operation.

About 40 rockets were fired at Israel during the evening, bringing the day’s total to nearly 100. Israel observed a ceasefire for about six hours on Tuesday, but rockets from Gaza continued to rain down on Israel.

Following the resumption of Israeli attacks on Gaza Tuesday, Israel’s Air Force attacked 30 targets across Gaza, including 20 underground launchers, tunnels, an ammunition depot, and the house of an Islamic Jihad official, Haaretz reported, citing the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

Early on Wednesday the IDF issued warnings to residents in three northern Gaza cities, calling on them to evacuate their homes for their own safety ahead of planned air strikes.

The warnings were to residents of Beit Lahyia, Shuja’iya and Zeitoun by recorded phone messages and text messages, as well as by leaflets dropped throughout the area.

The messages explain that a high volume of rockets being shot at Israel are originating from these areas and that the IDF plans to carry out aerial strikes on targets in the communities. The message also reads: “The IDF does not want to harm you, and your families. The evacuation is for your own safety. You should not return to the premises until further notice. Whoever disregards these instructions and fails to evacuate immediately, endangers their own lives, as well as those of their families.”

Hamas told the civilian residents of the communities to disregard the warnings, according to the IDF.

In total, throughout Operation Protective Edge, the IDF has struck about 1,825 terror-related targets across the Gaza Strip, according to the IDF.

At least 20 rockets were fired Wednesday morning at Israel from Gaza, including a large salvo at Tel Aviv, which were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.

Shrapnel from one of the rockets fell through the roof of a home in south Tel Aviv, landing in a bedroom.

Since the beginning of the operation nine days ago more than 1,260 rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, reaching to the center and north of the country. Some 225 rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system, with an overall success rate of 86 per cent, according to the IDF.