THEY WAY things were going, it was going to happen. And it happened this morning:

Just days after the cabinet gave the military final approval to counter ongoing Palestinian rocket fire against communities in the western Negev, the IDF launched a massive operation, striking Hamas installations throughout the Gaza Strip on Saturday.

There's no verified tally, but:

Medical sources report at least 120 Palestinians have been killed and over 200 wounded in a series of Israel Air Force strikes on the Gaza Strip on Saturday, according to Al Jazeera television.

Gaza health official Moawiya Hassanain confirmed the report, saying 120 Palestinians have been killed in the airstrikes.

Among the dead, reportedly, is Tawfiq Jabber, the Gaza police chief.

UPDATE. Palestinians respond with a barrage of Qassam rockets; one Israeli woman has been killed, 4 persons wounded.