Gaza City, Gaza Strip; and Jerusalem
Rockets streamed out of Gaza and Israel pounded the territory with airstrikes Wednesday as the most severe outbreak of violence since a 2014 war took on many hallmarks of that devastating 50-day conflict, with dozens killed and no resolution in sight.
Palls of gray smoke rose in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes leveled two apartment towers and hammered multiple security installations, destroying the central police compound.
In Israel, barrages of hundreds of rockets fired by Gaza’s Hamas rulers and other militants at times overwhelmed missile defenses and brought air raid sirens and explosions echoing across Tel Aviv, Israel’s biggest metropolitan area, and other cities. Six Israelis, including three women and a child, were killed by rocket fire, and dozens of people were wounded.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) Rockets streamed out of Gaza and Israel pounded the territory with airstrikes Wednesday as the most severe outbreak of violence since a 2014 war took on many hallmarks of that devastating 50-day conflict, with dozens killed and no resolution in sight.
Palls of gray smoke rose in Gaza, as Israeli airstrikes levelled two apartment towers and hammered the militant group’s multiple security installations, destroying the central police compound.
In Israel, barrages of hundreds of rockets fired by Gaza’s Hamas rulers and other militants at times overwhelmed missile defenses and brought air raid sirens and explosions echoing across Tel Aviv, Israel’s biggest metropolitan area, and other cities.
Israeli strike brings down massive Gaza high-rise building
Poll
Federal government
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) – Rockets streamed out of Gaza and Israel pounded the territory with airstrikes Wednesday as the most severe outbreak of violence since a 2014 war took on many hallmarks of that devastating 50-day conflict, with dozens killed and no resolution in sight.
Palls of gray smoke rose in Gaza, as Israeli airstrikes levelled two apartment towers and hammered the militant group’s multiple security installations, destroying the central police compound.
In Israel, barrages of hundreds of rockets fired by Gaza’s Hamas rulers and other militants at times overwhelmed missile defenses and brought air raid sirens and explosions echoing across Tel Aviv, Israel’s biggest metropolitan area, and other cities.
Source: Arab News
The United Nations envoy to the Middle East, Tor Winsland, warned Tuesday that the escalating violence between the Israeli Occupation and Hamas would lead to all-out war.
Winsland called on both sides to immediately cease fire, adding, We are heading towards all-out war. The leaders of all sides must assume responsibility for de-escalation. The war in Gaza will be devastating, and ordinary people will pay the price, he said.
And Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz promised Tuesday evening that the Israeli strikes on Gaza are only the beginning. There are still a lot of targets in the targeting circle, and this is only the beginning, Gantz told television.
Hamas has called for a full-scale intifada, or uprising.
The last such uprising began in 2000 and lasted more than five years.
The latest eruption of violence began a month ago in Jerusalem, where heavy-handed police tactics during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the threatened eviction of dozens of Palestinian families by Jewish settlers ignited protests and clashes with police.
A focal point was the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a site sacred to Jews and Muslims.
Late Monday, Hamas, claiming to be defending Jerusalem, launched a barrage of rockets at the city in a major escalation.
The Israeli military said militants have fired more 1,050 rockets since the conflict began, with 200 of them falling short and landing inside Gaza.