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Gaza conflict: Rocket barrage and Israeli strikes intensify | Gaza conflict: Rocket barrage and Israeli strikes intensify |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip have stepped up their attacks on each other, in some of the most intense exchanges of recent years. | |
Palestinian militants have fired more than 450 rockets into Israeli territory over the weekend. Many were intercepted but one Israeli man was killed. | |
Israel has hit about 220 targets in the Gaza Strip and threatened further "massive" strikes. | |
Gaza officials say eight Palestinians have been killed since Friday. | |
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to "continue its massive strikes on terror elements in the Gaza Strip". | On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to "continue its massive strikes on terror elements in the Gaza Strip". |
Israeli forces around Gaza would be "stepped up with tank, artillery and infantry forces", he added. | |
The flare-up comes despite a truce agreed last month. Egypt and the United Nations have recently been trying to broker a longer-term ceasefire. | The flare-up comes despite a truce agreed last month. Egypt and the United Nations have recently been trying to broker a longer-term ceasefire. |
How did the latest round of violence develop? | How did the latest round of violence develop? |
It began on Friday, during protests in Gaza against the blockade of the area - which Israel says is needed to stop weapons reaching militants. | It began on Friday, during protests in Gaza against the blockade of the area - which Israel says is needed to stop weapons reaching militants. |
A Palestinian gunman shot and wounded two Israeli soldiers at the boundary fence. Israel retaliated with an air strike that killed two militants. | A Palestinian gunman shot and wounded two Israeli soldiers at the boundary fence. Israel retaliated with an air strike that killed two militants. |
The rocket barrage from Gaza began on Saturday morning. Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system shot down dozens of the rockets, but a number of homes in Israeli towns and villages were hit. | The rocket barrage from Gaza began on Saturday morning. Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system shot down dozens of the rockets, but a number of homes in Israeli towns and villages were hit. |
An Israeli man died early on Sunday in Ashkelon, 10km (six miles) north of Gaza, after being struck by shrapnel in his home. | An Israeli man died early on Sunday in Ashkelon, 10km (six miles) north of Gaza, after being struck by shrapnel in his home. |
On the previous day, an elderly Israeli woman suffered serious injuries in Kyriat Gat, to the east of Ashkelon. | On the previous day, an elderly Israeli woman suffered serious injuries in Kyriat Gat, to the east of Ashkelon. |
Israel air strikes targeted sites belonging to the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad on Saturday and Sunday. | Israel air strikes targeted sites belonging to the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad on Saturday and Sunday. |
Hamas, which controls Gaza, says four Palestinian men were killed, as well as a woman and her 14-month-old daughter. | Hamas, which controls Gaza, says four Palestinian men were killed, as well as a woman and her 14-month-old daughter. |
But Israel says the mother and baby may have been killed by a Palestinian rocket that fell short of its target. | But Israel says the mother and baby may have been killed by a Palestinian rocket that fell short of its target. |
The sites destroyed include a multi-storey building in Gaza City, which Israel said included Hamas intelligence offices. | The sites destroyed include a multi-storey building in Gaza City, which Israel said included Hamas intelligence offices. |
Turkey said its state news agency Anadolu had an office there. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called Israeli strikes on civilians "a crime against humanity". | Turkey said its state news agency Anadolu had an office there. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called Israeli strikes on civilians "a crime against humanity". |
What about previous flare-ups? | What about previous flare-ups? |
It is the first deadly rocket attack from Gaza since the conflict of July and August 2014. | It is the first deadly rocket attack from Gaza since the conflict of July and August 2014. |
In that year, Israel launched a ground offensive on Gaza following the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli teenagers. | |
The conflict resulted in the death of 67 Israeli soldiers. Hamas and its allies launched more than 4,500 rocket strikes that killed six civilians in Israel. | |
On the Palestinian side, 2,251 people, including 1,462 civilians, were killed in the seven-week conflict, according to the UN. | On the Palestinian side, 2,251 people, including 1,462 civilians, were killed in the seven-week conflict, according to the UN. |
Since then, Palestinian militants have continued to carry out sporadic strikes on Israel. | Since then, Palestinian militants have continued to carry out sporadic strikes on Israel. |
In a previous wave this year, in March, several rockets were fired into southern Israel, triggering raids on Gaza by the Israeli air force. No fatalities were reported on either side. | In a previous wave this year, in March, several rockets were fired into southern Israel, triggering raids on Gaza by the Israeli air force. No fatalities were reported on either side. |
In early April a ceasefire was brokered by Egypt, but Hamas and allied militant groups later accused Israel of violating its terms. | In early April a ceasefire was brokered by Egypt, but Hamas and allied militant groups later accused Israel of violating its terms. |