Hamas, Israel exchange fire in new clashes
HAMAS has sent a heavy barrage of rockets deep into Israel as the Israelis pounded Gaza with more air strikes and called up 9,000 more reservists.
The escalation of hostilities came even as Egyptian negotiators held inperson talks with the two sides, intensifying efforts at mediation.
Previous fighting between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers, including a devastating 2014 war, was largely confined to the impoverished and blockaded Palestinian territory and Israeli communities on the frontier.
But this round seems to be rippling farther and wider than at any time since the 2000 Palestinian intifada, or uprising.
While some rocket attacks have reached the Tel Aviv area, Arab and Jewish mobs have rampaged through the streets, savagely beating people and torching cars. Flights have been cancelled or diverted away from the country’s main airport.
As Palestinians marked the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan yesterday, militants fired one barrage of rockets after another and Israel carried out waves of air strikes.
Since the rockets began on Monday, Israel has toppled three highrise buildings that it said housed Hamas facilities after warning civilians to evacuate.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said the death toll has climbed to 87 Palestinians, including 18 children and eight women, with 530 people wounded.
Islamic Jihad confirmed the deaths of seven militants, while Hamas has acknowledged 13 militants killed, including a senior commander.
Israel says the number of militants dead is much higher. Seven people have been killed in Israel.