The blast destroyed the home of the commander, Ayman Fayed - known as Abu Abdallah - in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza.

The death toll is expected to rise as there are reported to be people still trapped under the debris. Emergency services say the rescue operation will go on through the night.

An Islamic Jihad spokesman accused Israel of targeting the house in an air strike, and vowed revenge. Israel said it had no knowledge of a raid being carried out on the area.

Officials from Hamas said the cause of the blast was unclear.