Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says Israel is carrying out ''organised state terrorism and war crimes''&nbsp;in Gaza that are punishable under international law.

In a televised address Wednesday, he said the Palestinians ''will not hesitate to pursue those who commit such crimes in front of international courts.''

Abbas is the head of the internationally backed Palestinian Authority, whose forces were driven from Gaza when the militant Hamas group seized power in 2007. The PA has limited autonomy in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Earlier this year, the International Criminal Court launched an investigation into possible war crimes committed by Israel and Palestinian militants during the last Gaza war, in 2014. It has expressed concern about the latest round of fighting.

Abbas accused Israel of ''brutal attacks on civilians and deliberate bombardment of homes.''

Israel says it only strikes militant targets and makes every effort to avoid harming civilians, including by warning people ahead of some strikes.

Hamas and other militant groups have launched hundreds of rockets into Israel. The indiscriminate fire is widely seen as violating international law.&nbsp;

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says Israel is carrying out ''organised state terrorism and war crimes'' in Gaza that are punishable under international law.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says Israel is carrying out ''organised state terrorism and war crimes'' in Gaza that are punishable under international law. In a televised address Wednesday, he said the Palestinians ''will not hesitate to pursue those who commit such crimes in front of international courts.'' Abbas is the head of the internationally backed Palestinian Authority, whose forces were driven from Gaza when the militant Hamas group seized power in 2007. The PA has limited autonomy in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Earlier this year, the International Criminal Court launched an investigation into possible war crimes committed by Israel and Palestinian militants during the last Gaza war, in 2014. It has expressed concern about the latest round of fighting. Abbas accused Israel of ''brutal attacks on civilians and deliberate bombardment of homes.'' Israel says it only strikes militant targets and makes every effort to avoid harming civilians, including by warning people ahead of some strikes. Hamas and other militant groups have launched hundreds of rockets into Israel. The indiscriminate fire is widely seen as violating international law.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accuses Israel of war crimes

Israeli airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave continue early morning as health officials say at least 197 civilians, including 58 minors, have so far been killed.

More than 250 wounded people were evacuated to Egypt for treatment, according to medical and border sources.

Three convoys transporting a total of 263 Palestinians crossed the Rafah border post into Egypt’s restive North Sinai region. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-pm-netanyahu-defends-media-house-attack-says-building-was-legitimate-target-385466">Also read | Israel PM Netanyahu defends media house attack, says the building was 'legitimate target'</a> 
 
Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City flatten three buildings and kill at least 42 people on Sunday, as reported by Aljazeera news.

Gaza health authorities said 40,000 people had been displaced from their homes, and the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, announced over 40 of UNRWA's schools had been converted into shelters. 
 
Watch | Israel-Palestine Conflict: Israel bombs Hamas Gaza chief's home

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-palestine-conflict-israel-bombs-hamas-gaza-chiefs-home-385477/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Israel's bombardment of Gaza entered its eighth consecutive day after raids on Sunday killed at least 42 Palestinians, wounded dozens more, and flattened at least two residential buildings.

The home of Gaza's Hamas chief, Yehya al-Sinwar, was also targeted, as reported by Aljazeera news.

The United Nations Security Council met on Sunday to discuss the worst outbreak of violence in years in Palestine and Israel.

US President Biden conferred with Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, about efforts to broker a cease-fire. While supporting Israel's right to defend itself from rocket attacks by Hamas militants, Biden urged Netanyahu to protect civilians and journalists.

Over the past week, the 15-member U.N. Security Council met privately at least twice to discuss ways of reducing tensions. But efforts to reach an agreement on a statement or to hold an open meeting had faced resistance from the United States, Israel's biggest defender on the council.

Even before Sunday morning's attack, Israeli airstrikes had intensified over the weekend, with an attack on a house in a refugee camp in Gaza that killed 10 members of an extended family, including women and children, and another that destroyed a high-rise that housed media outlets of Al Jazeera.

The cross-border fire has sparked inter-communal violence between Jews and Arab-Israelis, as well as deadly clashes in the occupied West Bank, where 19 Palestinians have been killed since Monday.

A rocket on Sunday damaged a synagogue in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, shortly before prayers for the Shavuot Jewish holiday.

(With inputs from agencies)

Israeli airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave continue early morning as health officials say at least 197 civilians, including 58 minors, have so far been killed.

Israeli airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave continue early morning as health officials say at least 197 civilians, including 58 minors, have so far been killed. More than 250 wounded people were evacuated to Egypt for treatment, according to medical and border sources. Three convoys transporting a total of 263 Palestinians crossed the Rafah border post into Egypt’s restive North Sinai region. Also read | Israel PM Netanyahu defends media house attack, says the building was 'legitimate target' Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City flatten three buildings and kill at least 42 people on Sunday, as reported by Aljazeera news. Gaza health authorities said 40,000 people had been displaced from their homes, and the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, announced over 40 of UNRWA's schools had been converted into shelters. Watch | Israel-Palestine Conflict: Israel bombs Hamas Gaza chief's home Israel's bombardment of Gaza entered its eighth consecutive day after raids on Sunday killed at least 42 Palestinians, wounded dozens more, and flattened at least two residential buildings. The home of Gaza's Hamas chief, Yehya al-Sinwar, was also targeted, as reported by Aljazeera news. The United Nations Security Council met on Sunday to discuss the worst outbreak of violence in years in Palestine and Israel. US President Biden conferred with Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, about efforts to broker a cease-fire. While supporting Israel's right to defend itself from rocket attacks by Hamas militants, Biden urged Netanyahu to protect civilians and journalists. Over the past week, the 15-member U.N. Security Council met privately at least twice to discuss ways of reducing tensions. But efforts to reach an agreement on a statement or to hold an open meeting had faced resistance from the United States, Israel's biggest defender on the council. Even before Sunday morning's attack, Israeli airstrikes had intensified over the weekend, with an attack on a house in a refugee camp in Gaza that killed 10 members of an extended family, including women and children, and another that destroyed a high-rise that housed media outlets of Al Jazeera. The cross-border fire has sparked inter-communal violence between Jews and Arab-Israelis, as well as deadly clashes in the occupied West Bank, where 19 Palestinians have been killed since Monday. A rocket on Sunday damaged a synagogue in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, shortly before prayers for the Shavuot Jewish holiday. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Palestine conflict: Gaza fighting enters second week, death toll nears 200

The deadly clashes between Israel and Hamas militants escalated in what has become the heaviest flare-up since the 2014 Gaza War.&nbsp;

Fighter jets of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) unleashed a series of heavy airstrikes at multiple locations in Gaza City earlier today.&nbsp;

This came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled the fourth war with Gaza's Hamas rulers would rage on. Hamas also pressed on, launching rockets from civilian areas in Gaza toward civilian areas in Israel. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-pm-netanyahu-defends-media-house-attack-says-building-was-legitimate-target-385466">Also read | Israel PM Netanyahu defends media house attack, says the building was 'legitimate target'</a>

The Israeli attack destroyed 15 kilometres (nine miles) of militant tunnels and the homes of nine alleged Hamas commanders, according to a news report by Israeli media outlet The Times of Israel. 
 
Watch: Several injured in car-ramming attack in Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah 
&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/several-injured-in-car-ramming-attack-in-jerusalems-sheikh-jarrah-385526/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Israel's army said in a statement that it hit the homes of nine "high-ranking" Hamas commanders, without providing details on casualties.

The overnight bombardment also included the third round of strikes on what the army calls the "Metro," its term for a Hamas underground tunnel network.

Fifty-four fighter jets pounded 15 kilometres (nine miles) of tunnels, which the army has previously acknowledged runs in part through civilian areas.

Gazan Mani Qazaat said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "should realise we're civilians, not fighters", adding "I felt like I was dying". 
 
'Legitimate'

The renewed strikes come a day after 42 Palestinians in Gaza -- including at least eight children and two doctors, according to the health ministry -- were killed in the worst daily death toll in the enclave since the bombardments began.

In total, 197 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including at least 58 children, and more than 1,200 wounded since Israel launched its air campaign against Hamas on May 10 after the group fired rockets. The heaviest exchange of fire in years was sparked by unrest in Jerusalem.

In Israel, 10 people, including one child, have been killed and 294 wounded by rocket fire launched by armed groups in Gaza.

Israel's army said about 3,100 rockets had been fired since last Monday from Gaza -- the highest rate ever recorded -- but added it's Iron Dome anti-missile system had intercepted over 1,000.

Netanyahu said in a televised address Sunday that Israel's "campaign against the terrorist organisations is continuing with full force" and would "take time" to finish.

The Israeli army said it had targeted the infrastructure of Hamas and armed group Islamic Jihad, weapons factories and storage sites.

Israeli airstrikes also hit the home of Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas's political wing in Gaza, the army said, releasing footage of plumes of smoke and intense damage, but without saying if he was killed.

On Saturday, Israel gave journalists from Al Jazeera and AP news agency an hour to evacuate their offices before launching airstrikes, turning their tower block into piles of smoking rubble.

Netanyahu on Sunday said the building also hosted a Palestinian "terrorist" intelligence office.

"It is a legitimate target," he said.

Inter-communal clashes

The violence between Hamas and Israel is the worst since 2014 when Israel launched a military operation on the Gaza Strip with the stated aim of ending rocket fire and destroying tunnels used for smuggling.

The war left 2,251 dead on the Palestinian side, mostly civilians, and 74 on the Israeli side, mostly soldiers.

Opening the first session of the UN Security Council on the renewed violence on Sunday, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the fighting "utterly appalling".

"It must stop immediately," he said.

But the UN talks, already delayed by Israel's ally the United States, resulted in little action, with Washington opposing a resolution.

President Joe Biden's administration says it is working behind the scenes, and that a Security Council statement could backfire.

Israel is also trying to contain inter-communal violence between Jews and Arab-Israelis, as well as deadly clashes in the occupied West Bank, where 19 Palestinians have been killed since May 10, according to a toll from Palestinian authorities.

Major clashes broke out at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound -- one of Islam's holiest sites -- on May 7 following a crackdown against protests over planned expulsions of Palestinians in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.

Sheikh Jarrah has been at the heart of the flareup, seeing weeks of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces.

On Sunday, a car-ramming attack in Sheikh Jarrah wounded seven police officers, police said, adding that the attacker had been killed.

Police also said "several suspects" had been arrested during clashes in another east Jerusalem neighbourhood overnight Sunday to Monday.

Guterres warned the fighting could have far-reaching consequences if not stopped immediately.

"It has the potential to unleash an uncontainable security and humanitarian crisis and to further foster extremism, not only in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel but in the region as a whole."

(With inputs from agencies)

The deadly clashes between Israel and Hamas militants escalated in what has become the heaviest flare-up since the 2014 Gaza War. Fighter jets of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) unleashed a series of heavy airstrikes at multiple locations in Gaza City earlier today.

The deadly clashes between Israel and Hamas militants escalated in what has become the heaviest flare-up since the 2014 Gaza War. Fighter jets of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) unleashed a series of heavy airstrikes at multiple locations in Gaza City earlier today. This came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled the fourth war with Gaza's Hamas rulers would rage on. Hamas also pressed on, launching rockets from civilian areas in Gaza toward civilian areas in Israel. Also read | Israel PM Netanyahu defends media house attack, says the building was 'legitimate target' The Israeli attack destroyed 15 kilometres (nine miles) of militant tunnels and the homes of nine alleged Hamas commanders, according to a news report by Israeli media outlet The Times of Israel. Watch: Several injured in car-ramming attack in Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah Israel's army said in a statement that it hit the homes of nine "high-ranking" Hamas commanders, without providing details on casualties. The overnight bombardment also included the third round of strikes on what the army calls the "Metro," its term for a Hamas underground tunnel network. Fifty-four fighter jets pounded 15 kilometres (nine miles) of tunnels, which the army has previously acknowledged runs in part through civilian areas. Gazan Mani Qazaat said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "should realise we're civilians, not fighters", adding "I felt like I was dying". 'Legitimate' The renewed strikes come a day after 42 Palestinians in Gaza -- including at least eight children and two doctors, according to the health ministry -- were killed in the worst daily death toll in the enclave since the bombardments began. In total, 197 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including at least 58 children, and more than 1,200 wounded since Israel launched its air campaign against Hamas on May 10 after the group fired rockets. The heaviest exchange of fire in years was sparked by unrest in Jerusalem. In Israel, 10 people, including one child, have been killed and 294 wounded by rocket fire launched by armed groups in Gaza. Israel's army said about 3,100 rockets had been fired since last Monday from Gaza -- the highest rate ever recorded -- but added it's Iron Dome anti-missile system had intercepted over 1,000. Netanyahu said in a televised address Sunday that Israel's "campaign against the terrorist organisations is continuing with full force" and would "take time" to finish. The Israeli army said it had targeted the infrastructure of Hamas and armed group Islamic Jihad, weapons factories and storage sites. Israeli airstrikes also hit the home of Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas's political wing in Gaza, the army said, releasing footage of plumes of smoke and intense damage, but without saying if he was killed. On Saturday, Israel gave journalists from Al Jazeera and AP news agency an hour to evacuate their offices before launching airstrikes, turning their tower block into piles of smoking rubble. Netanyahu on Sunday said the building also hosted a Palestinian "terrorist" intelligence office. "It is a legitimate target," he said. Inter-communal clashes The violence between Hamas and Israel is the worst since 2014 when Israel launched a military operation on the Gaza Strip with the stated aim of ending rocket fire and destroying tunnels used for smuggling. The war left 2,251 dead on the Palestinian side, mostly civilians, and 74 on the Israeli side, mostly soldiers. Opening the first session of the UN Security Council on the renewed violence on Sunday, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the fighting "utterly appalling". "It must stop immediately," he said. But the UN talks, already delayed by Israel's ally the United States, resulted in little action, with Washington opposing a resolution. President Joe Biden's administration says it is working behind the scenes, and that a Security Council statement could backfire. Israel is also trying to contain inter-communal violence between Jews and Arab-Israelis, as well as deadly clashes in the occupied West Bank, where 19 Palestinians have been killed since May 10, according to a toll from Palestinian authorities. Major clashes broke out at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound -- one of Islam's holiest sites -- on May 7 following a crackdown against protests over planned expulsions of Palestinians in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem. Sheikh Jarrah has been at the heart of the flareup, seeing weeks of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces. On Sunday, a car-ramming attack in Sheikh Jarrah wounded seven police officers, police said, adding that the attacker had been killed. Police also said "several suspects" had been arrested during clashes in another east Jerusalem neighbourhood overnight Sunday to Monday. Guterres warned the fighting could have far-reaching consequences if not stopped immediately. "It has the potential to unleash an uncontainable security and humanitarian crisis and to further foster extremism, not only in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel but in the region as a whole." (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Palestine conflict: IDF strikes Hamas tunnels in Gaza, world leaders call for de-escalation

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged Israel and Palestine to stop the ongoing war and warned this could lead to an "uncontainable" crisis.

"Fighting must stop. It must stop immediately," Guterres said at a Security Council session. "It has the potential to unleash an uncontainable security and humanitarian crisis and to further foster extremism, not only in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel, but in the region as a whole."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nearly-3000-rockets-fired-from-gaza-towards-israel-army-claims-385423" hreflang="en">Nearly 3,000 rockets fired from Gaza towards Israel, army claims</a>

Calling this "senseless", he said the violence from both sides is "utterly appalling" as more than 200 people have lost their lives in the violent encounters between the Israeli forces and Hamas group.

"This senseless cycle of bloodshed, terror and destruction must stop immediately,"&nbsp;he said. "Rockets and mortars on one side and aerial and artillery bombardments on the other must stop.&nbsp;I appeal to all parties to heed this call."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-the-story-of-jerusalem-385257">Watch |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-the-story-of-jerusalem-385257/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He has also voiced his concerns against the recent attack on a high-rise building in Gaza that housed offices of media companies Associated press and Al-Jazeera.

"Journalists must be allowed to work free of fear and harassment. The destruction of media offices in Gaza is extremely concerning," he said.

He also talked about the danger from the rise of extremist Jewish movements marching against the Palestinians.

"In Israel, violence by vigilante-style groups and mobs has added a further horrendous dimension to an already deteriorating crisis," Guterres said. "Leaders on all sides have a responsibility to curb inflammatory rhetoric and calm the rising tensions."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged Israel and Palestine to stop the ongoing war and warned this could lead to an "uncontainable" crisis. "Fighting must stop.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged Israel and Palestine to stop the ongoing war and warned this could lead to an "uncontainable" crisis. "Fighting must stop. It must stop immediately," Guterres said at a Security Council session. "It has the potential to unleash an uncontainable security and humanitarian crisis and to further foster extremism, not only in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel, but in the region as a whole." Also read | Nearly 3,000 rockets fired from Gaza towards Israel, army claims Calling this "senseless", he said the violence from both sides is "utterly appalling" as more than 200 people have lost their lives in the violent encounters between the Israeli forces and Hamas group. "This senseless cycle of bloodshed, terror and destruction must stop immediately," he said. "Rockets and mortars on one side and aerial and artillery bombardments on the other must stop. I appeal to all parties to heed this call." Watch | He has also voiced his concerns against the recent attack on a high-rise building in Gaza that housed offices of media companies Associated press and Al-Jazeera. "Journalists must be allowed to work free of fear and harassment. The destruction of media offices in Gaza is extremely concerning," he said. He also talked about the danger from the rise of extremist Jewish movements marching against the Palestinians. "In Israel, violence by vigilante-style groups and mobs has added a further horrendous dimension to an already deteriorating crisis," Guterres said. "Leaders on all sides have a responsibility to curb inflammatory rhetoric and calm the rising tensions."

UN chief condemns 'senseless' attacks of Israel-Palestine; warns 'uncontainable' crisis

They smuggle the parts or make their own, aided with know-how from Iran. They repurpose plumbing pipes scavenged from abandoned Israeli settlements and components culled from dud Israeli bombs. They assemble the rockets underground or in dense neighbourhoods that the Israelis are reluctant to strike.

Despite Israel’s vaunted surveillance capability and overwhelming military firepower next door, Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip have managed to amass a large arsenal of rockets with an enhanced range in the 16 years since Israel vacated the coastal enclave it had occupied after the 1967 war.

Hamas, the militant group that has run Gaza since 2007 and does not recognize Israel’s right to exist, has parlayed the arsenal into an increasingly lethal threat, as seen in the most recent upsurge of hostilities with the Israeli military. By Thursday, Israeli officials said, the militants had fired about 1,800 rockets.

The arsenal pales in comparison to the vast destructive powers of Israel’s air force. But to Israelis, the rockets are the tools of what their country and many others including the United States regard as a terrorist organization, embedded among the nearly 2 million Palestinian inhabitants of Gaza.

To many Palestinians, the rockets symbolize their rightful resistance to Israeli dominance and occupation.

How many rockets have been amassed by Hamas and its allies?

Israeli intelligence has estimated that Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian militant groups have about 30,000 rockets and mortar projectiles stashed in Gaza. The rockets are of widely varying ranges and lack guidance systems, but the militants have been able to improve their accuracy.

What is new about the latest volleys launched from Gaza?

The number of rockets fired each day in the most recent spate of hostilities is unprecedented. And while the majority of the rockets appear to be aimed at population centres across southern and central Israel, longer-range rockets were launched at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. This is a sign, experts say, that Hamas has not only managed to replenish its arsenal but has improved its capabilities.

Some Israeli commanders have expressed surprise at both the intensity and range of the Gaza rockets.

An analysis by Michael Armstrong, an associate professor of operations research at Brock University in Canada, found a significant increase in the rate of fire. Using numbers from the Israel Defense Forces, Armstrong, who studies these weapons, cited 470 rockets fired from Gaza during the first 24 hours of the most recent escalation compared to a peak of 192 rockets per day in 2014 and 312 in 2012.

Hamas, he says, also launched more long-range attacks with 130 rockets fired at Tel Aviv late Tuesday, representing close to 17% of all fired until that point. In 2014, that rate was at 8% and in 2012 at less than 1%.

“We still don’t know if Hamas has more long-range rockets, or if they are choosing to use their best stuff first,” Armstrong said.

Why can’t Israel’s military destroy all the rockets in flight?

Israel has successfully thwarted many of the rockets fired with its Iron Dome antimissile defence system, destroying them before they land. But an increasing number of rockets have slammed into Israeli territory, some with deadly effect. Experts say the militants now know that the intensity of the barrages — and the multiple directions from which they launch — have exposed vulnerabilities in the Israeli defence.

“It seems they’re looking to overload or saturate Israel’s interceptive system, which can only handle a certain number of attacks at once,” Armstrong said.

What are the ranges of these rockets?

A sizable portion of the arsenal is believed to be short-range rockets, known as Qassams, named after the Hamas military wing, which has a range of roughly 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) and is more easily and cheaply produced than longer-range weapons. They have unpredictable trajectories and some land inside Gaza.

The arsenal’s medium-range rockets, based on Iranian and Russian design, can reach targets up to 25 miles, making Israeli targets as far as the Tel Aviv suburbs vulnerable. Versions of these weapons are believed to be produced inside Gaza.

The longest-range rockets can travel much farther and can hit Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ben-Gurion Airport. They include the M-75, a locally made rocket with technology supplied by Iran, and the J-80, a locally made rocket named after a famous Hamas military commander, Ahmed al-Jabari, killed by an Israeli airstrike in 2012. The numbers refer to their estimated ranges in kilometres.

On Thursday, Hamas claimed in a statement that it has a missile with a range of 250 kilometres (about 155 miles) that can hit anywhere in Israel.

How have Gaza militants preserved or even grown their arsenal?

In the past, medium- and longer-range rockets were typically smuggled through tunnels along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, and in some cases smuggled in parts, then assembled in Gaza. But in recent years, with Egypt making a more concerted effort to block and destroy the tunnels, smuggling whole rockets has become far more problematic. So Hamas and its affiliates in Gaza have developed their production skills.

Michael Herzog, an Israel-based international fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a retired brigadier general in the Israel Defense Forces, said Israeli military and intelligence officials are now far more concerned about the abilities of the militants to produce rockets they once had to import.

“The focus of IDF targeting now is on the production facilities so that when this round of fighting ends, there will not only be fewer rockets but also fewer production capabilities for making them,” Herzog said.

Who has helped Hamas and its allies achieve this capability?

The Gaza militants have openly attributed their success to help supplied by Iran, which Israel regards as its most potent foreign adversary. Iranian officials, too, are not shy about their relationship with Hamas.

Speaking to a large gathering in May 2019, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, could not have been more explicit in acknowledging Iran’s critical role in assisting Hamas.

“If it wasn’t for Iran’s support,” he said, “we would not have had these capabilities.”

Along with providing smuggled weapons and equipment, Iran has been focused on training to help Hamas upgrade local production, extend the range of rockets and improve their accuracy, according to both Palestinian and Israeli officials and experts.

“It is a huge improvement going from firing one or two rockets at a time to launching 130 rockets in five minutes,” said Rami Abu Zubaydah, a Gaza-based military expert, referring to the frequency of fire seen in the past few days.

“Most weapons are now manufactured in Gaza, using technical expertise from Iran,” he said.

How else have Gaza’s rocket makers skirted the blockade?

While still having to rely on smuggling parts and raw materials, Hamas leaders say the group has engineered creative workarounds to overcome tighter border controls and surveillance.

A 50-minute documentary broadcast by the Qatari-owned television channel Al-Jazeera in September showed rare scenes of Hamas militants recovering dozens of Israeli missiles that had not detonated in previous strikes on Gaza.

They brought the remnants into what looked like a hidden manufacturing facility, carefully extracted the explosives packed inside and recycled some of the parts. The same documentary also showed militants digging up old water pipes from where Israeli settlements used to sit and repurposing the empty cylinders in the production of new rockets.

Referring to the repurposed plumbing pipes, while speaking in another gathering in 2019, Sinwar said, “There is enough there to manufacture rockets for the coming 10 years.”

They smuggle the parts or make their own, aided with know-how from Iran. They repurpose plumbing pipes scavenged from abandoned Israeli settlements and components culled from dud Israeli bombs.

They smuggle the parts or make their own, aided with know-how from Iran. They repurpose plumbing pipes scavenged from abandoned Israeli settlements and components culled from dud Israeli bombs. They assemble the rockets underground or in dense neighbourhoods that the Israelis are reluctant to strike. Despite Israel’s vaunted surveillance capability and overwhelming military firepower next door, Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip have managed to amass a large arsenal of rockets with an enhanced range in the 16 years since Israel vacated the coastal enclave it had occupied after the 1967 war. Hamas, the militant group that has run Gaza since 2007 and does not recognize Israel’s right to exist, has parlayed the arsenal into an increasingly lethal threat, as seen in the most recent upsurge of hostilities with the Israeli military. By Thursday, Israeli officials said, the militants had fired about 1,800 rockets. The arsenal pales in comparison to the vast destructive powers of Israel’s air force. But to Israelis, the rockets are the tools of what their country and many others including the United States regard as a terrorist organization, embedded among the nearly 2 million Palestinian inhabitants of Gaza. To many Palestinians, the rockets symbolize their rightful resistance to Israeli dominance and occupation. How many rockets have been amassed by Hamas and its allies? Israeli intelligence has estimated that Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian militant groups have about 30,000 rockets and mortar projectiles stashed in Gaza. The rockets are of widely varying ranges and lack guidance systems, but the militants have been able to improve their accuracy. What is new about the latest volleys launched from Gaza? The number of rockets fired each day in the most recent spate of hostilities is unprecedented. And while the majority of the rockets appear to be aimed at population centres across southern and central Israel, longer-range rockets were launched at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. This is a sign, experts say, that Hamas has not only managed to replenish its arsenal but has improved its capabilities. Some Israeli commanders have expressed surprise at both the intensity and range of the Gaza rockets. An analysis by Michael Armstrong, an associate professor of operations research at Brock University in Canada, found a significant increase in the rate of fire. Using numbers from the Israel Defense Forces, Armstrong, who studies these weapons, cited 470 rockets fired from Gaza during the first 24 hours of the most recent escalation compared to a peak of 192 rockets per day in 2014 and 312 in 2012. Hamas, he says, also launched more long-range attacks with 130 rockets fired at Tel Aviv late Tuesday, representing close to 17% of all fired until that point. In 2014, that rate was at 8% and in 2012 at less than 1%. “We still don’t know if Hamas has more long-range rockets, or if they are choosing to use their best stuff first,” Armstrong said. Why can’t Israel’s military destroy all the rockets in flight? Israel has successfully thwarted many of the rockets fired with its Iron Dome antimissile defence system, destroying them before they land. But an increasing number of rockets have slammed into Israeli territory, some with deadly effect. Experts say the militants now know that the intensity of the barrages — and the multiple directions from which they launch — have exposed vulnerabilities in the Israeli defence. “It seems they’re looking to overload or saturate Israel’s interceptive system, which can only handle a certain number of attacks at once,” Armstrong said. What are the ranges of these rockets? A sizable portion of the arsenal is believed to be short-range rockets, known as Qassams, named after the Hamas military wing, which has a range of roughly 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) and is more easily and cheaply produced than longer-range weapons. They have unpredictable trajectories and some land inside Gaza. The arsenal’s medium-range rockets, based on Iranian and Russian design, can reach targets up to 25 miles, making Israeli targets as far as the Tel Aviv suburbs vulnerable. Versions of these weapons are believed to be produced inside Gaza. The longest-range rockets can travel much farther and can hit Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ben-Gurion Airport. They include the M-75, a locally made rocket with technology supplied by Iran, and the J-80, a locally made rocket named after a famous Hamas military commander, Ahmed al-Jabari, killed by an Israeli airstrike in 2012. The numbers refer to their estimated ranges in kilometres. On Thursday, Hamas claimed in a statement that it has a missile with a range of 250 kilometres (about 155 miles) that can hit anywhere in Israel. How have Gaza militants preserved or even grown their arsenal? In the past, medium- and longer-range rockets were typically smuggled through tunnels along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, and in some cases smuggled in parts, then assembled in Gaza. But in recent years, with Egypt making a more concerted effort to block and destroy the tunnels, smuggling whole rockets has become far more problematic. So Hamas and its affiliates in Gaza have developed their production skills. Michael Herzog, an Israel-based international fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a retired brigadier general in the Israel Defense Forces, said Israeli military and intelligence officials are now far more concerned about the abilities of the militants to produce rockets they once had to import. “The focus of IDF targeting now is on the production facilities so that when this round of fighting ends, there will not only be fewer rockets but also fewer production capabilities for making them,” Herzog said. Who has helped Hamas and its allies achieve this capability? The Gaza militants have openly attributed their success to help supplied by Iran, which Israel regards as its most potent foreign adversary. Iranian officials, too, are not shy about their relationship with Hamas. Speaking to a large gathering in May 2019, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, could not have been more explicit in acknowledging Iran’s critical role in assisting Hamas. “If it wasn’t for Iran’s support,” he said, “we would not have had these capabilities.” Along with providing smuggled weapons and equipment, Iran has been focused on training to help Hamas upgrade local production, extend the range of rockets and improve their accuracy, according to both Palestinian and Israeli officials and experts. “It is a huge improvement going from firing one or two rockets at a time to launching 130 rockets in five minutes,” said Rami Abu Zubaydah, a Gaza-based military expert, referring to the frequency of fire seen in the past few days. “Most weapons are now manufactured in Gaza, using technical expertise from Iran,” he said. How else have Gaza’s rocket makers skirted the blockade? While still having to rely on smuggling parts and raw materials, Hamas leaders say the group has engineered creative workarounds to overcome tighter border controls and surveillance. A 50-minute documentary broadcast by the Qatari-owned television channel Al-Jazeera in September showed rare scenes of Hamas militants recovering dozens of Israeli missiles that had not detonated in previous strikes on Gaza. They brought the remnants into what looked like a hidden manufacturing facility, carefully extracted the explosives packed inside and recycled some of the parts. The same documentary also showed militants digging up old water pipes from where Israeli settlements used to sit and repurposing the empty cylinders in the production of new rockets. Referring to the repurposed plumbing pipes, while speaking in another gathering in 2019, Sinwar said, “There is enough there to manufacture rockets for the coming 10 years.”

Gaza’s rockets: A replenished arsenal that vexes Israel

Palestinians and Israelis: Clashes since 2015

Defending the Netanyahu government’s response to Palestinian rocket attacks, US President Joe Biden has said on Thursday that he has not seen a “significant overreaction” from Israel in response to rocket fire from Gaza amid the latest regional flare-up.

"One of the things that I have seen thus far is that there has not been a significant over-reaction," Biden said at the White House.&nbsp;

"The question is how we get to a point where, how they get to a point where there is a significant reduction in the attacks, particularly the rocket attacks that are indiscriminately fired into population centres." 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-rocket-attack-israeli-energy-pipeline-hit-as-iron-dome-fails-to-intercept-missile-384683">Also read | Gaza rocket attack: Israeli energy pipeline hit as Iron Dome fails to intercept missile</a> 
 
On Wednesday, US President Biden had said&nbsp;“My expectation and hope is that this will be closing down sooner than later," Biden told reporters at the White House. “But Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory." 
 
Watch | Israel-Palestine clashes: What is happening in Gaza?

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The U.S. strategy has been a basic one: Get the violence to stop, and restore what officials called a sustainable calm, but even that has been elusive.

Amid calls for the United States to do more and for Biden to step in more directly, it is unclear how the president could prevail on both sides in the protracted conflict he has tracked for decades as a US&nbsp;senator and then vice president. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-gal-gadot-expresses-concern-over-israel-palestine-conflict-my-country-is-at-war-worry-for-my-family-and-friends-384679">Also read | Gal Gadot expresses concern over Israel-Palestine conflict: My country is at war, worry for my family and friends</a>

Biden shifted US&nbsp;policy sharply in taking over from Republican Donald Trump, waiting weeks to talk to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time and re-emphasizing the need for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has launched a major bombardment of the Gaza Strip from air, sea and land as Netanyahu vows to extract a ‘heavy price’ from Hamas.

According to a report by The Times of Israel, over 1,050 rockets and mortar shells have been fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel since the outbreak of fighting on Monday evening, with 200 failing to clear the border and landing inside the enclave.

IDF Spokesperson Hidai Zilberman says the Iron Dome air defence system had an interception rate between 85 and 90 per cent of rockets heading toward populated areas.

(With inputs from agencies)

Defending the Netanyahu government’s response to Palestinian rocket attacks, US President Joe Biden has said on Thursday that he has not seen a “significant overreaction” from Israel in response to rocket fire from Gaza amid the latest regional flare-up.

Defending the Netanyahu government’s response to Palestinian rocket attacks, US President Joe Biden has said on Thursday that he has not seen a “significant overreaction” from Israel in response to rocket fire from Gaza amid the latest regional flare-up. "One of the things that I have seen thus far is that there has not been a significant over-reaction," Biden said at the White House. "The question is how we get to a point where, how they get to a point where there is a significant reduction in the attacks, particularly the rocket attacks that are indiscriminately fired into population centres." Also read | Gaza rocket attack: Israeli energy pipeline hit as Iron Dome fails to intercept missile On Wednesday, US President Biden had said “My expectation and hope is that this will be closing down sooner than later," Biden told reporters at the White House. “But Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory." Watch | Israel-Palestine clashes: What is happening in Gaza? The U.S. strategy has been a basic one: Get the violence to stop, and restore what officials called a sustainable calm, but even that has been elusive. Amid calls for the United States to do more and for Biden to step in more directly, it is unclear how the president could prevail on both sides in the protracted conflict he has tracked for decades as a US senator and then vice president. Also read | Gal Gadot expresses concern over Israel-Palestine conflict: My country is at war, worry for my family and friends Biden shifted US policy sharply in taking over from Republican Donald Trump, waiting weeks to talk to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time and re-emphasizing the need for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has launched a major bombardment of the Gaza Strip from air, sea and land as Netanyahu vows to extract a ‘heavy price’ from Hamas. According to a report by The Times of Israel, over 1,050 rockets and mortar shells have been fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel since the outbreak of fighting on Monday evening, with 200 failing to clear the border and landing inside the enclave. IDF Spokesperson Hidai Zilberman says the Iron Dome air defence system had an interception rate between 85 and 90 per cent of rockets heading toward populated areas. (With inputs from agencies)

Airstrikes on Gaza not an 'overreaction', Israel has a right to defend: Biden

Israel&nbsp;bombarded Gaza with artillery and airstrikes on Friday in response to a new barrage of rocket fire from the Hamas-run enclave but stopped short of a ground offensive in the conflict that has now claimed more than 100 Palestinian lives.

As the violence intensified,&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;said it was carrying out an attack "in the Gaza Strip" although it later clarified there were no boots on the ground.

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Israeli security forces have also been scrambled to contain deadly riots between Jews and Arabs, and projectiles have been fired on&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;from Lebanon.

The United Nations said the Security Council would meet on Sunday to address the conflict, while the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was "deeply concerned about the violence in the streets of&nbsp;Israel".

"We believe that Israelis and Palestinians deserve equal measures of freedom, security, dignity and prosperity," Blinken said.

The Israeli army clarified early Friday that its troops had not entered the Gaza Strip as it had earlier stated, blaming an "internal communication" problem for the confusion.&nbsp;

The sound of artillery fire and explosions echoed across northern and eastern parts of Gaza into early Friday morning. Witnesses said many families living in areas near the border quit their homes, some seeking shelter at United Nations-run schools.

Violence also spread to mixed communities of Jews and Arabs in&nbsp;Israel, a new front in the long conflict. Synagogues were attacked and fighting broke out on the streets of some towns, prompting&nbsp;Israel's president to warn of civil war.

At least 109 people were killed in Gaza, including 29 children, over the previous four days, Palestinian medical officials said. On Thursday alone, 52 Palestinians were killed in the enclave, the highest single-day figure since Monday.

Seven people were killed in&nbsp;Israel: a soldier patrolling the Gaza border, five&nbsp;Israeli civilians, including two children, and an Indian worker,&nbsp;Israeli authorities said.

Israel&nbsp;launched its offensive after Hamas fired rockets at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in retaliation for&nbsp;Israeli police clashes with Palestinians near al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Brigadier-General Hidai Zilberman, the&nbsp;Israeli military's chief spokesman, said attacks on militants' rocket production and launching sites were "disrupting Hamas' activities", but still not to the point of stopping the barrages.

He said between 80 and 90 militants had been killed in&nbsp;Israeli attacks.

Zilberman said&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;was "building up forces on the Gaza border", a deployment that raised speculation about a possible ground invasion, a move that would recall similar incursions during&nbsp;Israel-Gaza wars in 2014 and in 2009.

Israeli military affairs correspondents, have said however that a major ground incursion is unlikely, citing high casualties among the risks.

Hamas armed wing spokesman Abu Ubaida responded to the troop buildup with defiance, urging Palestinians to rise up.

"Mass up as you wish, from the sea, land and sky. We have prepared for your kinds of deaths that would make you curse yourselves," he said.

So far some 1,750 rockets have been fired at&nbsp;Israel, of which 300 fell short in the Gaza Strip, the&nbsp;Israeli military said.

The hostilities have fuelled tension between&nbsp;Israeli Jews and the country's 21 per cent&nbsp;Arab minority who live alongside them in some communities. Jewish and Arab groups attacked people and damaged shops, hotels and cars overnight.

Although the unrest in Jerusalem was the trigger for hostilities, Palestinians are frustrated by setbacks to their aspirations for an independent state in recent years, including Washington's recognition of disputed Jerusalem as&nbsp;Israel's capital.

On the&nbsp;Israeli political front, Netanyahu's chances to remain in power after an inconclusive March 23 election appeared to improve significantly after his main rival, centrist Yair Lapid, suffered a major setback in efforts to form a government.

(With inputs from agencies)

Israel bombarded Gaza with artillery and airstrikes on Friday in response to a new barrage of rocket fire from the Hamas-run enclave but stopped short of a ground offensive in the conflict that has now claimed more than 100 Palestinian lives.

Israel bombarded Gaza with artillery and airstrikes on Friday in response to a new barrage of rocket fire from the Hamas-run enclave but stopped short of a ground offensive in the conflict that has now claimed more than 100 Palestinian lives. As the violence intensified, Israel said it was carrying out an attack "in the Gaza Strip" although it later clarified there were no boots on the ground. Israeli security forces have also been scrambled to contain deadly riots between Jews and Arabs, and projectiles have been fired on Israel from Lebanon. The United Nations said the Security Council would meet on Sunday to address the conflict, while the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was "deeply concerned about the violence in the streets of Israel". "We believe that Israelis and Palestinians deserve equal measures of freedom, security, dignity and prosperity," Blinken said. The Israeli army clarified early Friday that its troops had not entered the Gaza Strip as it had earlier stated, blaming an "internal communication" problem for the confusion. The sound of artillery fire and explosions echoed across northern and eastern parts of Gaza into early Friday morning. Witnesses said many families living in areas near the border quit their homes, some seeking shelter at United Nations-run schools. Violence also spread to mixed communities of Jews and Arabs in Israel, a new front in the long conflict. Synagogues were attacked and fighting broke out on the streets of some towns, prompting Israel's president to warn of civil war. At least 109 people were killed in Gaza, including 29 children, over the previous four days, Palestinian medical officials said. On Thursday alone, 52 Palestinians were killed in the enclave, the highest single-day figure since Monday. Seven people were killed in Israel: a soldier patrolling the Gaza border, five Israeli civilians, including two children, and an Indian worker, Israeli authorities said. Israel launched its offensive after Hamas fired rockets at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in retaliation for Israeli police clashes with Palestinians near al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Brigadier-General Hidai Zilberman, the Israeli military's chief spokesman, said attacks on militants' rocket production and launching sites were "disrupting Hamas' activities", but still not to the point of stopping the barrages. He said between 80 and 90 militants had been killed in Israeli attacks. Zilberman said Israel was "building up forces on the Gaza border", a deployment that raised speculation about a possible ground invasion, a move that would recall similar incursions during Israel-Gaza wars in 2014 and in 2009. Israeli military affairs correspondents, have said however that a major ground incursion is unlikely, citing high casualties among the risks. Hamas armed wing spokesman Abu Ubaida responded to the troop buildup with defiance, urging Palestinians to rise up. "Mass up as you wish, from the sea, land and sky. We have prepared for your kinds of deaths that would make you curse yourselves," he said. So far some 1,750 rockets have been fired at Israel, of which 300 fell short in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said. The hostilities have fuelled tension between Israeli Jews and the country's 21 per cent Arab minority who live alongside them in some communities. Jewish and Arab groups attacked people and damaged shops, hotels and cars overnight. Although the unrest in Jerusalem was the trigger for hostilities, Palestinians are frustrated by setbacks to their aspirations for an independent state in recent years, including Washington's recognition of disputed Jerusalem as Israel's capital. On the Israeli political front, Netanyahu's chances to remain in power after an inconclusive March 23 election appeared to improve significantly after his main rival, centrist Yair Lapid, suffered a major setback in efforts to form a government. (With inputs from agencies)

Gaza conflict intensifies with rocket barrages and air strikes

Israel PM Netanyahu on Thursday said his government is massing troops along the Gaza frontier ahead of a possible ground invasion of the Hamas-ruled territory, as the two bitter enemies plunged closer to all-out war.&nbsp;

"Citizens of Israel, we are dealing with a campaign on two fronts. The first front – Gaza. I said that we would extract a very heavy price from Hamas and the other terrorist organizations. We are doing so and we will continue to do so with great force. The last word has not been saying and this operation will continue as long as necessary to restore the quiet and security to the State of Israel," said Netanyahu.

"The second front – Israel's cities. I repeat what I said earlier today: We give 100% backing to the police, to the soldiers of the Border Police and to other security forces to restore law and order to Israel's cities. We will not tolerate anarchy," he added.

"We back the police in using all means with full powers, including in conjunction with the IDF and the ISA. We have given powers for an emergency here. These measures are important, legitimate and necessary to heartlessness in the State of Israel."

"I again call on the citizens of Israel not to take the law into their own hands; whoever does so will be punished severely. I would like to participate in the sorrow of the families that have lost their dear ones – the families of five-year-old Ido Avigal and soldier Omer Tabib and five other families of five citizens who unfortunately lost their lives. We will act with full force against enemies from outside and law-breakers from inside to rest too the State of Israel."

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has launched a major bombardment of the Gaza Strip from air, sea and land as Netanyahu vowed to extract a ‘heavy price’ from Hamas.

According to a report by The Times of Israel, over 1,050 rockets and mortar shells have been fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel since the outbreak of fighting on Monday evening, with 200 failing to clear the border and landing inside the enclave.

IDF Spokesperson Hidai Zilberman says the Iron Dome air defence system had an interception rate between 85 and 90 per cent of rockets heading toward populated areas.

(With inputs from agencies)

Israel PM Netanyahu on Thursday said his government is massing troops along the Gaza frontier ahead of a possible ground invasion of the Hamas-ruled territory, as the two bitter enemies plunged closer to all-out war.

Israel PM Netanyahu on Thursday said his government is massing troops along the Gaza frontier ahead of a possible ground invasion of the Hamas-ruled territory, as the two bitter enemies plunged closer to all-out war. "Citizens of Israel, we are dealing with a campaign on two fronts. The first front – Gaza. I said that we would extract a very heavy price from Hamas and the other terrorist organizations. We are doing so and we will continue to do so with great force. The last word has not been saying and this operation will continue as long as necessary to restore the quiet and security to the State of Israel," said Netanyahu. "The second front – Israel's cities. I repeat what I said earlier today: We give 100% backing to the police, to the soldiers of the Border Police and to other security forces to restore law and order to Israel's cities. We will not tolerate anarchy," he added. "We back the police in using all means with full powers, including in conjunction with the IDF and the ISA. We have given powers for an emergency here. These measures are important, legitimate and necessary to heartlessness in the State of Israel." "I again call on the citizens of Israel not to take the law into their own hands; whoever does so will be punished severely. I would like to participate in the sorrow of the families that have lost their dear ones – the families of five-year-old Ido Avigal and soldier Omer Tabib and five other families of five citizens who unfortunately lost their lives. We will act with full force against enemies from outside and law-breakers from inside to rest too the State of Israel." The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has launched a major bombardment of the Gaza Strip from air, sea and land as Netanyahu vowed to extract a ‘heavy price’ from Hamas. According to a report by The Times of Israel, over 1,050 rockets and mortar shells have been fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel since the outbreak of fighting on Monday evening, with 200 failing to clear the border and landing inside the enclave. IDF Spokesperson Hidai Zilberman says the Iron Dome air defence system had an interception rate between 85 and 90 per cent of rockets heading toward populated areas. (With inputs from agencies)

Will use more 'heavy force' against Hamas in Gaza: Israel PM Netanyahu

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday (local time) spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the Israel-Palestine conflict and said he hopes that the hostilities will come to a conclusion.

"My expectation and hope are that this will be closing down sooner than later. But Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory. But I had a conversation for a while with the -- with the Prime Minister of Israel. And I think that -- my hope is that we will see this coming to a conclusion sooner than later," Biden told reporters at the White House.

The US President spoke on the issue for the first time since the violence erupted at the start of the week.

According to a White House readout, Biden in a phone call to Netanyahu condemned the rocket attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups, including against Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. He conveyed his unwavering support for Israel`s security and for Israel`s legitimate right to defend itself and its people while protecting civilians. He also conveyed the US encouragement of a pathway toward restoring a sustainable calm and shared his conviction that Jerusalem, a city of such importance to people of faith from around the world, must be a place of peace.

Biden also updated Netanyahu on the United States` diplomatic engagement with regional countries, including Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar, as well as with Palestinian officials.

The two leaders agreed to maintain the close consultation between their teams, which has included consistent engagement by their respective foreign ministers, defence ministers, chiefs of defence, and national security advisors, and to stay in touch personally in the days ahead, according to White House.

Earlier on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Netanyahu and expressed his concerns over the ongoing violence.

According to US State Department spokesperson Ned Price, Blinken and Netanyahu discussed the ongoing violence in Jerusalem and the Secretary reiterated his call on all parties to de-escalate tensions and bring a halt to the violence.

The ongoing violence between Israel and Palestine marks a dramatic escalation of tensions linked to the potential eviction of Palestinian families from East Jerusalem by Israeli settlers and access to one of the most sacred sites in the city, which is a key hub for Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

With ramping up of rocket attacks and airstrikes from both sides, concerns have emerged that the conflict is likely to evolve into a full-blown war. Meanwhile, the death toll in Gaza rose to 65 Palestinians, including 16 children and five women, according to Gaza`s Health Ministry. At least 365 people have been wounded, including 86 children and 39 women.&nbsp;

On the other hand, a five-year-old boy was killed and at least 20 Israelis were hurt as Gaza launched a fresh spade of rocket attacks that set off warning sirens in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and cities in the south on Wednesday night, reported The Times of Israel. The death toll in Israel has reached 7.

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday (local time) spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the Israel-Palestine conflict and said he hopes that the hostilities will come to a conclusion.

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday (local time) spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the Israel-Palestine conflict and said he hopes that the hostilities will come to a conclusion. "My expectation and hope are that this will be closing down sooner than later. But Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory. But I had a conversation for a while with the -- with the Prime Minister of Israel. And I think that -- my hope is that we will see this coming to a conclusion sooner than later," Biden told reporters at the White House. The US President spoke on the issue for the first time since the violence erupted at the start of the week. According to a White House readout, Biden in a phone call to Netanyahu condemned the rocket attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups, including against Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. He conveyed his unwavering support for Israel`s security and for Israel`s legitimate right to defend itself and its people while protecting civilians. He also conveyed the US encouragement of a pathway toward restoring a sustainable calm and shared his conviction that Jerusalem, a city of such importance to people of faith from around the world, must be a place of peace. Biden also updated Netanyahu on the United States` diplomatic engagement with regional countries, including Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar, as well as with Palestinian officials. The two leaders agreed to maintain the close consultation between their teams, which has included consistent engagement by their respective foreign ministers, defence ministers, chiefs of defence, and national security advisors, and to stay in touch personally in the days ahead, according to White House. Earlier on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Netanyahu and expressed his concerns over the ongoing violence. According to US State Department spokesperson Ned Price, Blinken and Netanyahu discussed the ongoing violence in Jerusalem and the Secretary reiterated his call on all parties to de-escalate tensions and bring a halt to the violence. The ongoing violence between Israel and Palestine marks a dramatic escalation of tensions linked to the potential eviction of Palestinian families from East Jerusalem by Israeli settlers and access to one of the most sacred sites in the city, which is a key hub for Islam, Judaism and Christianity. With ramping up of rocket attacks and airstrikes from both sides, concerns have emerged that the conflict is likely to evolve into a full-blown war. Meanwhile, the death toll in Gaza rose to 65 Palestinians, including 16 children and five women, according to Gaza`s Health Ministry. At least 365 people have been wounded, including 86 children and 39 women. On the other hand, a five-year-old boy was killed and at least 20 Israelis were hurt as Gaza launched a fresh spade of rocket attacks that set off warning sirens in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and cities in the south on Wednesday night, reported The Times of Israel. The death toll in Israel has reached 7.

Biden discusses Israel-Palestine conflict with Netanyahu; hopes hostilities to end soon

The Israeli military and Hamas militants in Gaza continue to exchange rocket fire and airstrikes. The death toll continues to climb as violence spreads to the streets of mixed Arab-Jewish cities in Israel.

World leaders have called for an end to violence. Some have emphasized Israel's right to defend itself, while others warn of full-scale war if the two sides fail to de-escalate.

Hamas Gaza City commander, Bassem Issa, has been killed in one of the Israeli airstrikes along with our senior members, the Hamas group confirmed. 
 
The death toll in Gaza rose to 65 Palestinians, including 16 children and five women, according to Gaza`s Health Ministry. At least 365 people have been wounded, including 86 children and 39 women.&nbsp; 
 
Gravitas: Violence escalates between Israel, Gaza

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In a statement issued late on Wednesday, Blinken also “expressed his condolences for the lives lost” as a result of the Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian territory of Gaza, while also condemning the deadly rocket attacks into Israel.

“The Secretary also expressed his belief that Palestinians and Israelis deserve equal measures of freedom, dignity, security and prosperity,” said Ned Price, the state department spokesman.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone with <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> Joe Biden. The Prime Minister thanked President Biden for the American backing of Israel's right to self-defense.
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM/status/1392608255671771143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, a five-year-old boy was killed and at least 20 Israelis were hurt as Gaza launched a fresh spade of rocket attacks that set off warning sirens in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and cities in the south on Wednesday night, reported The Times of Israel. In a rare incident, rocket shrapnel punctured the shelter`s window, critically injuring the minor and also wounding his mother.&nbsp;

He was pronounced dead several hours later, reported local mediaWith the boy`s death, the number of fatalities has reached seven, including five Israeli civilians, an Indian national and an IDF soldier killed by anti-tank missile fire on the Gaza border. According to the Israeli army, 180 rockets were fired at Israel since 6 a.m. on Wednesday, of which 40 fell in Gaza.

In response to the rocket fire, the IDF launched strikes on upwards of 500 targets in the Gaza Strip, aimed at Hamas personnel, weaponry and infrastructure throughout the enclave Israeli police have said that 374 people have been arrested so far tonight in rioting throughout the country, with 36 cops hurt during events, reported The Times of Israel.

The ongoing violence between Israel and Palestine marks a dramatic escalation of tensions linked to the potential eviction of Palestinian families from East Jerusalem by Israeli settlers and access to one of the most sacred sites in the city, which is a key hub for Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

A senior Hamas official on Wednesday said the terror organisation is ready to end the current intensive fighting with Israel, the Times of Israel reported citing the Russian foreign ministry`s statement. Deputy Chairman of the Hamas political bureau conditioned it on Israel halting strikes and on the international community pressuring the Jewish state to end "military actions" at the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount.

Tensions between Israel and Palestine are rapidly rising with the ramping up of rocket attacks and the United Nations has warned that the conflict is moving towards a `full-scale war`.United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, called on both sides to de-escalate tensions the day before.

"Stop the fire immediately. We are escalating towards full-scale war. Leaders on all sides have to take responsibility for de-escalation. The cost of war in Gaza is devastating and is being paid for by ordinary people. The UN is working with all sides to restore calm. Stop the violence now," he tweeted.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Israeli military and Hamas militants in Gaza continue to exchange rocket fire and airstrikes. The death toll continues to climb as violence spreads to the streets of mixed Arab-Jewish cities in Israel.

The Israeli military and Hamas militants in Gaza continue to exchange rocket fire and airstrikes. The death toll continues to climb as violence spreads to the streets of mixed Arab-Jewish cities in Israel. World leaders have called for an end to violence. Some have emphasized Israel's right to defend itself, while others warn of full-scale war if the two sides fail to de-escalate. Hamas Gaza City commander, Bassem Issa, has been killed in one of the Israeli airstrikes along with our senior members, the Hamas group confirmed. The death toll in Gaza rose to 65 Palestinians, including 16 children and five women, according to Gaza`s Health Ministry. At least 365 people have been wounded, including 86 children and 39 women. Gravitas: Violence escalates between Israel, Gaza In a statement issued late on Wednesday, Blinken also “expressed his condolences for the lives lost” as a result of the Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian territory of Gaza, while also condemning the deadly rocket attacks into Israel. “The Secretary also expressed his belief that Palestinians and Israelis deserve equal measures of freedom, dignity, security and prosperity,” said Ned Price, the state department spokesman. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone with @POTUS Joe Biden. The Prime Minister thanked President Biden for the American backing of Israel's right to self-defense. — PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 12, 2021 × Meanwhile, a five-year-old boy was killed and at least 20 Israelis were hurt as Gaza launched a fresh spade of rocket attacks that set off warning sirens in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and cities in the south on Wednesday night, reported The Times of Israel. In a rare incident, rocket shrapnel punctured the shelter`s window, critically injuring the minor and also wounding his mother. He was pronounced dead several hours later, reported local mediaWith the boy`s death, the number of fatalities has reached seven, including five Israeli civilians, an Indian national and an IDF soldier killed by anti-tank missile fire on the Gaza border. According to the Israeli army, 180 rockets were fired at Israel since 6 a.m. on Wednesday, of which 40 fell in Gaza. In response to the rocket fire, the IDF launched strikes on upwards of 500 targets in the Gaza Strip, aimed at Hamas personnel, weaponry and infrastructure throughout the enclave Israeli police have said that 374 people have been arrested so far tonight in rioting throughout the country, with 36 cops hurt during events, reported The Times of Israel. The ongoing violence between Israel and Palestine marks a dramatic escalation of tensions linked to the potential eviction of Palestinian families from East Jerusalem by Israeli settlers and access to one of the most sacred sites in the city, which is a key hub for Islam, Judaism and Christianity. A senior Hamas official on Wednesday said the terror organisation is ready to end the current intensive fighting with Israel, the Times of Israel reported citing the Russian foreign ministry`s statement. Deputy Chairman of the Hamas political bureau conditioned it on Israel halting strikes and on the international community pressuring the Jewish state to end "military actions" at the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount. Tensions between Israel and Palestine are rapidly rising with the ramping up of rocket attacks and the United Nations has warned that the conflict is moving towards a `full-scale war`.United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, called on both sides to de-escalate tensions the day before. "Stop the fire immediately. We are escalating towards full-scale war. Leaders on all sides have to take responsibility for de-escalation. The cost of war in Gaza is devastating and is being paid for by ordinary people. The UN is working with all sides to restore calm. Stop the violence now," he tweeted. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Hamas violence: At least 65 killed in Gaza, 7 in Israel as clashes intensify

The health ministry controlled by Hamas in Gaza territory has said that 83 people have died since the violence outbreak, 17 of them children, and 487 have been wounded.

The Israeli military said it had struck Gaza more than 600 times since Monday evening while Hamas has fired more than 1,600 rockets towards Israel.&nbsp;

"Dozens of those killed were terrorists and that additionally, some Palestinian fatalities were caused by misfired rockets from Gaza that failed to reach Israel and fell short in the Strip," The Times of Israel reported quoting Israel Defense Forces.

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The Israeli-Palestine conflict 
 
"The situation on the ground is simply tragic, you have two and a half million Palestinians in Gaza who are under siege, who have no shelter to seek safety in": <a href="https://twitter.com/nour_odeh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nour_odeh</a>, senior journalist and Palestinian Legislative Council candidate<a href="https://twitter.com/SaroyaHem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SaroyaHem</a> <a href="https://t.co/V7RBv9xv1k">pic.twitter.com/V7RBv9xv1k</a>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1392769913534570500?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The ongoing violence between Israel and Palestine marks a dramatic escalation of tensions linked to the potential eviction of Palestinian families from East Jerusalem by Israeli settlers and access to one of the most sacred sites in the city, which is a key hub for Islam, Judaism and Christianity. 
 
Gravitas: Violence escalates between Israel, Gaza

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Tensions between Israel and Palestine are rapidly rising with the ramping up of rocket attacks and the United Nations has warned that the conflict is moving towards a `full-scale war`.

United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, called on both sides to de-escalate tensions the day before.

"Stop the fire immediately. We are escalating towards full-scale war. Leaders on all sides have to take responsibility for de-escalation. The cost of war in Gaza is devastating and is being paid for by ordinary people. The UN is working with all sides to restore calm. Stop the violence now," he tweeted.

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Stop the fire immediately. We’re escalating towards a full scale war. Leaders on all sides have to take the responsibility of deescalation. The cost of war in Gaza is devastating &amp; is being paid by ordinary people. UN is working w/ all sides to restore calm. Stop the violence now
— Tor Wennesland (@TWennesland) <a href="https://twitter.com/TWennesland/status/1392218044433420291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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(With inputs from agencies)

The health ministry controlled by Hamas in Gaza territory has said that 83 people have died since the violence outbreak, 17 of them children, and 487 have been wounded.

The health ministry controlled by Hamas in Gaza territory has said that 83 people have died since the violence outbreak, 17 of them children, and 487 have been wounded. The Israeli military said it had struck Gaza more than 600 times since Monday evening while Hamas has fired more than 1,600 rockets towards Israel. "Dozens of those killed were terrorists and that additionally, some Palestinian fatalities were caused by misfired rockets from Gaza that failed to reach Israel and fell short in the Strip," The Times of Israel reported quoting Israel Defense Forces. The Israeli-Palestine conflict "The situation on the ground is simply tragic, you have two and a half million Palestinians in Gaza who are under siege, who have no shelter to seek safety in": @nour_odeh, senior journalist and Palestinian Legislative Council candidate@SaroyaHem pic.twitter.com/V7RBv9xv1k — WION (@WIONews) May 13, 2021 × The ongoing violence between Israel and Palestine marks a dramatic escalation of tensions linked to the potential eviction of Palestinian families from East Jerusalem by Israeli settlers and access to one of the most sacred sites in the city, which is a key hub for Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Gravitas: Violence escalates between Israel, Gaza Tensions between Israel and Palestine are rapidly rising with the ramping up of rocket attacks and the United Nations has warned that the conflict is moving towards a `full-scale war`. United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, called on both sides to de-escalate tensions the day before. "Stop the fire immediately. We are escalating towards full-scale war. Leaders on all sides have to take responsibility for de-escalation. The cost of war in Gaza is devastating and is being paid for by ordinary people. The UN is working with all sides to restore calm. Stop the violence now," he tweeted. Stop the fire immediately. We’re escalating towards a full scale war. Leaders on all sides have to take the responsibility of deescalation. The cost of war in Gaza is devastating & is being paid by ordinary people. UN is working w/ all sides to restore calm. Stop the violence now — Tor Wennesland (@TWennesland) May 11, 2021 × (With inputs from agencies)

Hamas health ministry says 83 killed in Gaza since the start of violence

China on Thursday expressed a "high degree of concern" over deadly clashes between Israel and Palestinians and urged the United Nations Security Council to do more to de-escalate tensions and implement a two-state solution.

The most intense hostilities in seven years have killed at least 83 people in Gaza and seven in Israel since Monday.

On Friday the Security Council is to hold another emergency meeting after Tunisia, Norway and China urged the body to reconvene despite resistance from the United States, which acts as a diplomatic shield for ally Israel.

An earlier emergency meeting held Wednesday ended without agreement on a joint statement due to opposition from the United States, diplomats said.

"China expresses a high degree of concern regarding the current situation between Palestine and Israel," said foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, adding that China was ready to draft and circulate a statement on behalf of the body.

"However, due to the obstruction of individual countries, no agreement has been reached so far," added Hua.&nbsp;

"The Security Council should take action, reiterate its commitment to and firm support for the two-state solution."

One of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, China holds the rotating presidency this month.

Beijing is often criticised by the United States for vetoing Security Council statements including when it blocked an attempt to condemn the military coup in Myanmar.

Friday's expected meeting will be public and include participation by Israel and the Palestinians, diplomats told AFP Wednesday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a US envoy would travel to the Middle East in an effort to calm tensions.

China on Thursday expressed a "high degree of concern" over deadly clashes between Israel and Palestinians and urged the United Nations Security Council to do more to de-escalate tensions and implement a two-state solution.

China on Thursday expressed a "high degree of concern" over deadly clashes between Israel and Palestinians and urged the United Nations Security Council to do more to de-escalate tensions and implement a two-state solution. The most intense hostilities in seven years have killed at least 83 people in Gaza and seven in Israel since Monday. On Friday the Security Council is to hold another emergency meeting after Tunisia, Norway and China urged the body to reconvene despite resistance from the United States, which acts as a diplomatic shield for ally Israel. An earlier emergency meeting held Wednesday ended without agreement on a joint statement due to opposition from the United States, diplomats said. "China expresses a high degree of concern regarding the current situation between Palestine and Israel," said foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, adding that China was ready to draft and circulate a statement on behalf of the body. "However, due to the obstruction of individual countries, no agreement has been reached so far," added Hua. "The Security Council should take action, reiterate its commitment to and firm support for the two-state solution." One of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, China holds the rotating presidency this month. Beijing is often criticised by the United States for vetoing Security Council statements including when it blocked an attempt to condemn the military coup in Myanmar. Friday's expected meeting will be public and include participation by Israel and the Palestinians, diplomats told AFP Wednesday. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a US envoy would travel to the Middle East in an effort to calm tensions.

China urges UN to act on Israel-Palestinian conflict

In service for nearly a decade to protect Israel from rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, Iron Dome is credited with helping Israel to maintain military supremacy over its neighbours.&nbsp;

But Iron Dome failed to intercept the projectile late Tuesday resulting in a major pipeline belonging to an Israeli state-owned energy company was hit in a rocket attack.

In the worst flare-up of violence in seven years, Israel&nbsp;launched hundreds of airstrikes and Palestinians fired hundreds of missiles so far this week, killing more than 70 people and injuring hundreds more amid rising fears the conflict could spiral into all-out war.

What started as a week of tense clashes in Jerusalem escalated on Wednesday into an aerial conflict and violent unrest on the streets of mixed Arab-Israeli towns.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the Israel-Palestine conflict and said he hopes that the hostilities will come to a conclusion.

"My expectation and hope are that this will be closing down sooner than later. But Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory. But I had a conversation for a while with the -- with the Prime Minister of Israel. And I think that -- my hope is that we will see this coming to a conclusion sooner than later," Biden told reporters at the White House.

(With inputs from agencies)

In service for nearly a decade to protect Israel from rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, Iron Dome is credited with helping Israel to maintain military supremacy over its neighbours.

In service for nearly a decade to protect Israel from rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, Iron Dome is credited with helping Israel to maintain military supremacy over its neighbours. But Iron Dome failed to intercept the projectile late Tuesday resulting in a major pipeline belonging to an Israeli state-owned energy company was hit in a rocket attack. In the worst flare-up of violence in seven years, Israel launched hundreds of airstrikes and Palestinians fired hundreds of missiles so far this week, killing more than 70 people and injuring hundreds more amid rising fears the conflict could spiral into all-out war. What started as a week of tense clashes in Jerusalem escalated on Wednesday into an aerial conflict and violent unrest on the streets of mixed Arab-Israeli towns. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the Israel-Palestine conflict and said he hopes that the hostilities will come to a conclusion. "My expectation and hope are that this will be closing down sooner than later. But Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory. But I had a conversation for a while with the -- with the Prime Minister of Israel. And I think that -- my hope is that we will see this coming to a conclusion sooner than later," Biden told reporters at the White House. (With inputs from agencies)

Gaza rocket attack: Israeli energy pipeline hit as Iron Dome fails to intercept missile

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken implored Israel on Wednesday to avoid civilian deaths, even as he defended the Jewish state's right to attack Gaza in response to Hamas rocket fire.

"I think Israel has an extra burden in trying to do everything they possibly can to avoid civilian casualties, even as it is rightfully responding in defense of its people," Blinken said, calling images of dead Palestinian children "harrowing."

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"I have asked Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Hady Amr to go to the region immediately to meet with Israelis and Palestinians … he will urge, on my behalf and on behalf of President (Joe) Biden, a de-escalation of violence."

Weeks of violent clashes in East Jerusalem have ignited the heaviest fighting in years between Israel and Palestinian militants in the&nbsp;Gaza&nbsp;Strip.

At the core of the violence that has left dozens dead are tensions between Israelis and Palestinians over Jerusalem, which contains sites sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity.

The tensions, which the United Nations has warned is heading towards "a full-scale war", were triggered by the looming evictions of Palestinian families to make way for Israeli settlers in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah.

Israel rejects allegations that it targets civilians.

Without referring to any specific incident, Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Conricus told reporters: "We are definitely very mindful of civilian casualties in&nbsp;Gaza&nbsp;and we want to minimise them. That's the priority."

Israel said it killed 16 members of the Hamas military wing in a air strike on&nbsp;Gaza&nbsp;on Wednesday and Palestinian militants rained rockets into Israel as global concern mounted over their most intense hostilities in years.

At least 53 people have been killed in&nbsp;Gaza&nbsp;since violence escalated on Monday, according to the Palestinian territory's health ministry. Six people have been killed in Israel, medical officials said.

Israel's Shin Bet security service said the brigade commander for&nbsp;Gaza&nbsp;City was among senior members of the Islamist militant group Hamas who had been killed.

"This is just the beginning. We'll hit them like they've never dreamed possible," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.

Soon after the announcement, a new rocket barrage was fired at the Israeli city of Ashdod and Israeli media said the military was preparing for new salvoes on the Tel Aviv area.

Hamas confirmed the commander's death and the loss of "other leaders and warriors" and said in a statement: "Thousands of leaders and soldiers will follow in their footsteps.".

A Palestinian source said truce efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations had made no progress to end violence that flared this week after tension during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan and clashes in East Jerusalem.

The offensive is the heaviest between Israel and Hamas since a 2014 war in the Hamas-ruled enclave, and concern is growing that the situation could spiral out of control.

In&nbsp;Gaza, a multi-storey residential building collapsed after Israel warned its occupants in advance to evacuate, and another was heavily damaged in the air strikes.

Other air strikes hit what Israel's military said were rocket launch sites, Hamas offices and the homes of Hamas leaders. Israeli officials said at least 41 Palestinian fighters have been killed in the&nbsp;Gaza&nbsp;hostilities so far.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz told reporters the Israeli military action would continue until "complete and long-term quiet" was achieved.

Hamas said it fired 210 rockets towards Beersheba in southern Israel and at Tel Aviv overnight in response to the strikes on the tower buildings in&nbsp;Gaza&nbsp;City.

"If they (Israeli forces) want to escalate, the resistance is ready, if they want to stop, the resistance is ready," Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said.

(With inputs from agencies)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken implored Israel on Wednesday to avoid civilian deaths, even as he defended the Jewish state's right to attack Gaza in response to Hamas rocket fire.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken implored Israel on Wednesday to avoid civilian deaths, even as he defended the Jewish state's right to attack Gaza in response to Hamas rocket fire. "I think Israel has an extra burden in trying to do everything they possibly can to avoid civilian casualties, even as it is rightfully responding in defense of its people," Blinken said, calling images of dead Palestinian children "harrowing." "I have asked Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Hady Amr to go to the region immediately to meet with Israelis and Palestinians … he will urge, on my behalf and on behalf of President (Joe) Biden, a de-escalation of violence." Weeks of violent clashes in East Jerusalem have ignited the heaviest fighting in years between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. At the core of the violence that has left dozens dead are tensions between Israelis and Palestinians over Jerusalem, which contains sites sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity. The tensions, which the United Nations has warned is heading towards "a full-scale war", were triggered by the looming evictions of Palestinian families to make way for Israeli settlers in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah. Israel rejects allegations that it targets civilians. Without referring to any specific incident, Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Conricus told reporters: "We are definitely very mindful of civilian casualties in Gaza and we want to minimise them. That's the priority." Israel said it killed 16 members of the Hamas military wing in a air strike on Gaza on Wednesday and Palestinian militants rained rockets into Israel as global concern mounted over their most intense hostilities in years. At least 53 people have been killed in Gaza since violence escalated on Monday, according to the Palestinian territory's health ministry. Six people have been killed in Israel, medical officials said. Israel's Shin Bet security service said the brigade commander for Gaza City was among senior members of the Islamist militant group Hamas who had been killed. "This is just the beginning. We'll hit them like they've never dreamed possible," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. Soon after the announcement, a new rocket barrage was fired at the Israeli city of Ashdod and Israeli media said the military was preparing for new salvoes on the Tel Aviv area. Hamas confirmed the commander's death and the loss of "other leaders and warriors" and said in a statement: "Thousands of leaders and soldiers will follow in their footsteps.". A Palestinian source said truce efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations had made no progress to end violence that flared this week after tension during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan and clashes in East Jerusalem. The offensive is the heaviest between Israel and Hamas since a 2014 war in the Hamas-ruled enclave, and concern is growing that the situation could spiral out of control. In Gaza, a multi-storey residential building collapsed after Israel warned its occupants in advance to evacuate, and another was heavily damaged in the air strikes. Other air strikes hit what Israel's military said were rocket launch sites, Hamas offices and the homes of Hamas leaders. Israeli officials said at least 41 Palestinian fighters have been killed in the Gaza hostilities so far. Defence Minister Benny Gantz told reporters the Israeli military action would continue until "complete and long-term quiet" was achieved. Hamas said it fired 210 rockets towards Beersheba in southern Israel and at Tel Aviv overnight in response to the strikes on the tower buildings in Gaza City. "If they (Israeli forces) want to escalate, the resistance is ready, if they want to stop, the resistance is ready," Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said. (With inputs from agencies)

Blinken says Israel must take 'extra burden' to avoid civilian deaths

With accounts deleted on Twitter and content blocked on Instagram, Palestinian social media users say they have been censored from showing the reality of the unrest in Jerusalem.

The eastern part of the holy city has been hit with the worst violence since 2017, with clashes centred around the Al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, since Friday.

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The tensions have since spiralled into a full-scale military confrontation, in which Islamist groups have fired rockets and Israel has launched air raids on targets in the coastal enclave of Gaza.

The tensions, which the United Nations has warned is heading towards "a full-scale war", were triggered by the looming evictions of Palestinian families to make way for Israeli settlers in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah.

On social media, Palestinians have widely shared photos and videos of Israeli forces facing off with residents, in what Amnesty International has denounced as an "illegal and abusive use of force" against "largely peaceful" protesters.

Social media remains an important tool for Palestinians, many of whom believe traditional media coverage does not sufficiently capture the reality of the crisis.

Instagram and&nbsp;Twitter&nbsp;had&nbsp;blamed technical errors for deleting posts mentioning the possible eviction of Palestinians from East Jerusalem, but data rights groups fear "discriminatory" algorithms are at work and want greater transparency.

Palestinians living in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood claimed by Jewish settlers have taken to social media to protest as they face eviction, but some found their posts, photos or videos removed or their accounts blocked starting last week.

It came as a long-running legal case over evictions from homes in Sheikh Jarrah has fuelled tensions in Jerusalem where hundreds of Palestinians clashed with Israeli police on Monday.

Sada Social, a platform designed to protect content shared by Palestinians online, recorded 200 restrictions in the past week on matters related to Sheikh Jarrah and East Jerusalem.

"This includes the closure of accounts on Twitter or Instagram or the blocking of features on Instagram, such as streaming live videos, or restricting access to content related to Sheikh Jarrah, Gaza or Jerusalem," said director Eyad Rifai.

A spokesperson for Twitter said it was reversing action against accounts that were targeted "in error by an automated spam filter".

"Defending and respecting the voices of the people who use our service is one of our core values at Twitter," said the statement.

"We use a combination of technology and human review to enforce the Twitter Rules across the service. In this case, our automated systems took enforcement action on a number of accounts in error".

Instagram meanwhile blamed a "technical bug which impacted millions of people's stories, highlights and archives globally" including Palestinians who saw their content "disappear".

Likewise, the Arabic hashtag Al-Aqsa was "mistakenly restricted" in an action which has since been "lifted", said a spokesperson for Facebook, which owns the platform.

"We sincerely apologise for both issues, and to all those, including our Palestinian community, who felt like their ability to have an open discussion around important matters was affected in any way".

But Palestinian internet users still report restrictions, said Marwa Fatafta, Middle East and North Africa manager at digital activist group Access Now.&nbsp;

"On Friday evening, during the Israeli assault on worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Facebook restricted the 'Al-Aqsa' hashtag and the streaming of live videos on Instagram was disrupted or blocked for many users," Fatafta said.

She added that Twitter also suspended dozens of accounts, including that of Palestinian journalist Mariam Barghouti, "as she covered a violent Israeli crackdown on protesters near Ramallah" in the occupied West Bank.

"These arbitrary 'technical errors' tend to happen in peak times when activists are sharing information and documenting Israeli aggression," said Fatafta, who called for transparency and an investigation.

Barghouti's Twitter account, with over 50,000 followers, has since been restored.

Rifai, from Sada Social, accused the Israeli government of having forged partnerships with major social networks to "crack down on Palestinian digital content", but said this is the first time that restrictions have become widespread.

"It is a very serious situation which prevents us, as Palestinians, from enjoying our digital rights like other users of these sites around the world," he told said.

Rifai said that some deleted accounts have been restored on Twitter, but that the process is "still ongoing".

In a statement released on Sunday, Instagram said that the same restrictions had affected content related to protests in Colombia and the rights of indigenous communities in Canada and the United States.&nbsp;

The social network said it has solved the problem but Hind Khoudary, a Palestinian journalist with more than 18,000 followers on Instagram, said she is "still censored".

"I have lost stories. And my stories on Instagram cannot be seen," she told said.

(With inputs from agencies)

With accounts deleted on Twitter and content blocked on Instagram, Palestinian social media users say they have been censored from showing the reality of the unrest in Jerusalem.

With accounts deleted on Twitter and content blocked on Instagram, Palestinian social media users say they have been censored from showing the reality of the unrest in Jerusalem. The eastern part of the holy city has been hit with the worst violence since 2017, with clashes centred around the Al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, since Friday. The tensions have since spiralled into a full-scale military confrontation, in which Islamist groups have fired rockets and Israel has launched air raids on targets in the coastal enclave of Gaza. The tensions, which the United Nations has warned is heading towards "a full-scale war", were triggered by the looming evictions of Palestinian families to make way for Israeli settlers in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah. On social media, Palestinians have widely shared photos and videos of Israeli forces facing off with residents, in what Amnesty International has denounced as an "illegal and abusive use of force" against "largely peaceful" protesters. Social media remains an important tool for Palestinians, many of whom believe traditional media coverage does not sufficiently capture the reality of the crisis. Instagram and Twitter had blamed technical errors for deleting posts mentioning the possible eviction of Palestinians from East Jerusalem, but data rights groups fear "discriminatory" algorithms are at work and want greater transparency. Palestinians living in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood claimed by Jewish settlers have taken to social media to protest as they face eviction, but some found their posts, photos or videos removed or their accounts blocked starting last week. It came as a long-running legal case over evictions from homes in Sheikh Jarrah has fuelled tensions in Jerusalem where hundreds of Palestinians clashed with Israeli police on Monday. Sada Social, a platform designed to protect content shared by Palestinians online, recorded 200 restrictions in the past week on matters related to Sheikh Jarrah and East Jerusalem. "This includes the closure of accounts on Twitter or Instagram or the blocking of features on Instagram, such as streaming live videos, or restricting access to content related to Sheikh Jarrah, Gaza or Jerusalem," said director Eyad Rifai. A spokesperson for Twitter said it was reversing action against accounts that were targeted "in error by an automated spam filter". "Defending and respecting the voices of the people who use our service is one of our core values at Twitter," said the statement. "We use a combination of technology and human review to enforce the Twitter Rules across the service. In this case, our automated systems took enforcement action on a number of accounts in error". Instagram meanwhile blamed a "technical bug which impacted millions of people's stories, highlights and archives globally" including Palestinians who saw their content "disappear". Likewise, the Arabic hashtag Al-Aqsa was "mistakenly restricted" in an action which has since been "lifted", said a spokesperson for Facebook, which owns the platform. "We sincerely apologise for both issues, and to all those, including our Palestinian community, who felt like their ability to have an open discussion around important matters was affected in any way". But Palestinian internet users still report restrictions, said Marwa Fatafta, Middle East and North Africa manager at digital activist group Access Now. "On Friday evening, during the Israeli assault on worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Facebook restricted the 'Al-Aqsa' hashtag and the streaming of live videos on Instagram was disrupted or blocked for many users," Fatafta said. She added that Twitter also suspended dozens of accounts, including that of Palestinian journalist Mariam Barghouti, "as she covered a violent Israeli crackdown on protesters near Ramallah" in the occupied West Bank. "These arbitrary 'technical errors' tend to happen in peak times when activists are sharing information and documenting Israeli aggression," said Fatafta, who called for transparency and an investigation. Barghouti's Twitter account, with over 50,000 followers, has since been restored. Rifai, from Sada Social, accused the Israeli government of having forged partnerships with major social networks to "crack down on Palestinian digital content", but said this is the first time that restrictions have become widespread. "It is a very serious situation which prevents us, as Palestinians, from enjoying our digital rights like other users of these sites around the world," he told said. Rifai said that some deleted accounts have been restored on Twitter, but that the process is "still ongoing". In a statement released on Sunday, Instagram said that the same restrictions had affected content related to protests in Colombia and the rights of indigenous communities in Canada and the United States. The social network said it has solved the problem but Hind Khoudary, a Palestinian journalist with more than 18,000 followers on Instagram, said she is "still censored". "I have lost stories. And my stories on Instagram cannot be seen," she told said. (With inputs from agencies)

Palestinians denounce 'censorship' of content by Instagram and Twitter

Human Rights Watch said Tuesday that Israel is committing the crime of "apartheid" by seeking to maintain Jewish "domination" over Palestinians and its own Arab population, an explosive allegation fiercely denounced by Israel.&nbsp;

Currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes, Israel blasted HRW's accusations as "preposterous and false", accusing the New York-based group of having "a long-standing anti-Israeli agenda".

HRW said its finding that Israel is "committing the crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution" against Palestinians was based on robust sourcing including government planning materials and statements by public officials. &nbsp;

The 213-page report finds that the Israeli government is the "single authority" with primary control "over the area between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea".

Within that territory, there is "an overarching Israeli government policy to maintain the domination by Jewish Israelis over Palestinians," HRW said.&nbsp;

The group said its findings apply to Israeli treatment of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, the blockaded Gaza Strip, annexed east Jerusalem as well as Arab Israelis -- a term referring to Palestinians who stayed on their land following Israel's creation in 1948.

HRW said that while apartheid was initially coined with respect to institutional persecution of blacks in South Africa, it was now a universally recognised legal term.&nbsp;

An apartheid system is defined by "an effort to maintain domination by one racial group over another, a context of systematic oppression by the dominant group over the marginalised group (and) inhuman acts," the group said.&nbsp;

Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch, told AFP there have been warnings for years that "apartheid is around the corner".

"I think it's quite clear that that threshold has been crossed," Shakir said from Jordan.&nbsp;

A US citizen, Shakir was the first foreign national deported by Israel for allegedly supporting an international boycott movement that seeks to isolate Israel, an allegation he denies.&nbsp;

Israel's foreign ministry told AFP the HRW report amounted to a "propaganda pamphlet" from an organisation that has been "actively seeking for years to promote boycotts against Israel".

Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967, the same year it annexed east Jerusalem.&nbsp;

Since then, Jewish settlers in both areas have absorbed increased amounts of land.&nbsp;

Palestinians in east Jerusalem and across much of the West Bank are regularly denied building permits, while Jewish home construction has steadily grown. &nbsp;

HRW called on nations to stop viewing the occupation as an issue that can be resolved through a peace deal, and foster accountability by reconsidering their Israel ties, including military cooperation.&nbsp;

"While much of the world treats Israel's half-century occupation as a temporary situation that a decades-long 'peace process' will soon cure, the oppression of Palestinians there has reached a threshold and a permanence that meets the definitions of the crimes of apartheid and persecution," said HRW executive director Ken Roth.&nbsp;

The group also called on the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority to cease security cooperation with Israel to avoid being "complicit" with apartheid.

The PA did not immediately respond to the HRW report.&nbsp;

Israel has said it will not cooperate with the International Criminal Court investigation, primarily expected to focus on alleged war crimes committed during the 2014 war against Hamas Islamists in Gaza.

Hamas -- considered a terrorist group by most Western states -- is also being probed by the ICC.&nbsp;

But HRW said the ICC should conduct additional investigations into those "credibly implicated" in committing the crimes of apartheid and persecution.

It called on nations to "impose individual sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on officials responsible for committing these crimes."

While HRW is the first major international organisation to level the controversial apartheid charge against Israel, it is following a move made last year by Israeli civil society group B'Tselem.&nbsp;

The settler watchdog charged that the "Israeli regime implements laws, practices and state violence designed to cement the supremacy of one group -– Jews –- over another -– Palestinians."

Human Rights Watch said Tuesday that Israel is committing the crime of "apartheid" by seeking to maintain Jewish "domination" over Palestinians and its own Arab population, an explosive allegation fiercely denounced by Israel.

Human Rights Watch said Tuesday that Israel is committing the crime of "apartheid" by seeking to maintain Jewish "domination" over Palestinians and its own Arab population, an explosive allegation fiercely denounced by Israel. Currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes, Israel blasted HRW's accusations as "preposterous and false", accusing the New York-based group of having "a long-standing anti-Israeli agenda". HRW said its finding that Israel is "committing the crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution" against Palestinians was based on robust sourcing including government planning materials and statements by public officials. The 213-page report finds that the Israeli government is the "single authority" with primary control "over the area between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea". Within that territory, there is "an overarching Israeli government policy to maintain the domination by Jewish Israelis over Palestinians," HRW said. The group said its findings apply to Israeli treatment of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, the blockaded Gaza Strip, annexed east Jerusalem as well as Arab Israelis -- a term referring to Palestinians who stayed on their land following Israel's creation in 1948. HRW said that while apartheid was initially coined with respect to institutional persecution of blacks in South Africa, it was now a universally recognised legal term. An apartheid system is defined by "an effort to maintain domination by one racial group over another, a context of systematic oppression by the dominant group over the marginalised group (and) inhuman acts," the group said. Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch, told AFP there have been warnings for years that "apartheid is around the corner". "I think it's quite clear that that threshold has been crossed," Shakir said from Jordan. A US citizen, Shakir was the first foreign national deported by Israel for allegedly supporting an international boycott movement that seeks to isolate Israel, an allegation he denies. Israel's foreign ministry told AFP the HRW report amounted to a "propaganda pamphlet" from an organisation that has been "actively seeking for years to promote boycotts against Israel". Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967, the same year it annexed east Jerusalem. Since then, Jewish settlers in both areas have absorbed increased amounts of land. Palestinians in east Jerusalem and across much of the West Bank are regularly denied building permits, while Jewish home construction has steadily grown. HRW called on nations to stop viewing the occupation as an issue that can be resolved through a peace deal, and foster accountability by reconsidering their Israel ties, including military cooperation. "While much of the world treats Israel's half-century occupation as a temporary situation that a decades-long 'peace process' will soon cure, the oppression of Palestinians there has reached a threshold and a permanence that meets the definitions of the crimes of apartheid and persecution," said HRW executive director Ken Roth. The group also called on the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority to cease security cooperation with Israel to avoid being "complicit" with apartheid. The PA did not immediately respond to the HRW report. Israel has said it will not cooperate with the International Criminal Court investigation, primarily expected to focus on alleged war crimes committed during the 2014 war against Hamas Islamists in Gaza. Hamas -- considered a terrorist group by most Western states -- is also being probed by the ICC. But HRW said the ICC should conduct additional investigations into those "credibly implicated" in committing the crimes of apartheid and persecution. It called on nations to "impose individual sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on officials responsible for committing these crimes." While HRW is the first major international organisation to level the controversial apartheid charge against Israel, it is following a move made last year by Israeli civil society group B'Tselem. The settler watchdog charged that the "Israeli regime implements laws, practices and state violence designed to cement the supremacy of one group -– Jews –- over another -– Palestinians."

Human Rights Watch says Israel committing 'crime of apartheid' against Palestinians

Israel has released more than $1 billion in funds withheld from the Palestinian Authority, a Palestinian minister said Wednesday, weeks after coordination was renewed between the two sides.

Hussein al-Sheikh, a close aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, confirmed the receipt of nearly 3.8 billion shekels (around $1.1 billion) from Israel.

&nbsp;

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The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Israeli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Israeli</a> government transfers all financial dues of the clearance to the account of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Palestinian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Palestinian</a> Authority, amounting to three billion and 768 million shekels. <a href="https://t.co/TK9vueVzRW">https://t.co/TK9vueVzRW</a>
— حسين الشيخ Hussein Al Sheikh (@HusseinSheikhpl) <a href="https://twitter.com/HusseinSheikhpl/status/1334056982043643904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In May, the Palestinians stopped coordination with Israel, with PA leader Mahmud Abbas saying it was in response to Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank.

Israel later put its annexation plans on hold, in return for an agreement to normalise ties with the United Arab Emirates, announced in August.

In halting the cooperation with Israel, the PA also stopped accepting transfer of taxes,&nbsp;particularly customs duties,&nbsp;collected by Israel on its behalf.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/seeking-restart-with-biden-palestinians-eye-end-to-prisoner-payments-344402">Seeking restart with Biden, Palestinians eye end to prisoner payments</a>

The Palestinians resumed contacts with Israel last month following President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the US&nbsp;Election. Biden is opposed to annexation and has promised a more evenhanded approach to the conflict.

The taxes are a key source of revenue for the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. It was forced to cut the salaries it pays to tens of thousands of civil servants, worsening an economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Israel's Finance Ministry said the funds were transferred following the approval of the Israeli Security Cabinet last month.

Israel said it would deduct an amount equal to what the Palestinian Authority pays to the families of prisoners and those killed in the conflict, including militants implicated in attacks that killed Israelis.

Israel says the so-called Martyrs' Fund incentivizes violence, while the Palestinians say it provides aid to needy families.

President Donald Trump's Mideast plan, unveiled in January, would have allowed Israel to annex a third of the West Bank, including all its Jewish settlements. The Palestinians immediately rejected the plan, and Abbas announced in May that he was cutting all ties to the US&nbsp;And Israel, and would no longer abide by past agreements with them.

Israel shelved its annexation plans in August after the United Arab Emirates agreed to normalize relations, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pause was only temporary.

Trump took unprecedented steps to support Israel and isolate the Palestinians, including moving the US&nbsp;Embassy to contested Jerusalem, cutting off aid to the Palestinians, and ending decades of US&nbsp;Opposition to Israeli settlements, which the Palestinians and much of the international community view as a violation of international law.

Biden has vowed to restore aid to the Palestinians and press both sides to resume the long-moribund peace process, without providing much detail about his approach.&nbsp;

Israel has released more than $1 billion in funds withheld from the Palestinian Authority, a Palestinian minister said Wednesday, weeks after coordination was renewed between the two sides.

Israel has released more than $1 billion in funds withheld from the Palestinian Authority, a Palestinian minister said Wednesday, weeks after coordination was renewed between the two sides. Hussein al-Sheikh, a close aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, confirmed the receipt of nearly 3.8 billion shekels (around $1.1 billion) from Israel. The #Israeli government transfers all financial dues of the clearance to the account of the #Palestinian Authority, amounting to three billion and 768 million shekels. https://t.co/TK9vueVzRW — حسين الشيخ Hussein Al Sheikh (@HusseinSheikhpl) December 2, 2020 × In May, the Palestinians stopped coordination with Israel, with PA leader Mahmud Abbas saying it was in response to Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank. Israel later put its annexation plans on hold, in return for an agreement to normalise ties with the United Arab Emirates, announced in August. In halting the cooperation with Israel, the PA also stopped accepting transfer of taxes, particularly customs duties, collected by Israel on its behalf. Also read: Seeking restart with Biden, Palestinians eye end to prisoner payments The Palestinians resumed contacts with Israel last month following President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the US Election. Biden is opposed to annexation and has promised a more evenhanded approach to the conflict. The taxes are a key source of revenue for the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. It was forced to cut the salaries it pays to tens of thousands of civil servants, worsening an economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Israel's Finance Ministry said the funds were transferred following the approval of the Israeli Security Cabinet last month. Israel said it would deduct an amount equal to what the Palestinian Authority pays to the families of prisoners and those killed in the conflict, including militants implicated in attacks that killed Israelis. Israel says the so-called Martyrs' Fund incentivizes violence, while the Palestinians say it provides aid to needy families. President Donald Trump's Mideast plan, unveiled in January, would have allowed Israel to annex a third of the West Bank, including all its Jewish settlements. The Palestinians immediately rejected the plan, and Abbas announced in May that he was cutting all ties to the US And Israel, and would no longer abide by past agreements with them. Israel shelved its annexation plans in August after the United Arab Emirates agreed to normalize relations, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pause was only temporary. Trump took unprecedented steps to support Israel and isolate the Palestinians, including moving the US Embassy to contested Jerusalem, cutting off aid to the Palestinians, and ending decades of US Opposition to Israeli settlements, which the Palestinians and much of the international community view as a violation of international law. Biden has vowed to restore aid to the Palestinians and press both sides to resume the long-moribund peace process, without providing much detail about his approach.

Israel transfers $1 billion in withheld funds to Palestinians

The White House on Saturday unveiled a USD 50 billion Palestinian investment and infrastructure proposal intended to be the economic engine to power its much-anticipated but still unreleased "deal of the century" Middle East peace plan.

White House proposes $50bn Middle East peace plan in Bahrain

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he is ready to "consider" a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-economy-first-approach-to-mideast-peace-built-on-big-money-projects-229587">US plan to resolve his country's long-running conflict</a> with the Palestinians.

"We will consider the American proposal in a fair and open way," he said as he hosted US national security adviser John Bolton.

The Palestinian leadership has already rejected the plan, citing US "bias" after the White House recognised bitterly divided Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

"I don't understand how the Palestinians rejected the plan even before knowing what it contained," said Netanyahu.

"That's not how you move forward."

He was talking during a visit to the Jordan valley, Israeli-occupied territory he has pledged never to give up in a peace deal.

"To those who say that to obtain peace, Israel must leave the Jordan Valley, I say, it will not bring peace -- it will bring war and terror," he said.

"Israel's presence here must continue for Israel's security and the security of all."

Bolton was being hosted by the Israeli leader for talks on "regional security", according to the White House.

His visit came amid a tense standoff between the US and Iran following a series of tanker attacks and the shooting down of an American drone.

The White House is set next week to present details for the first time of its long-awaited peace initiative being formulated by US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner.

US officials say it aims to raise more than $50 billion and create more than a million jobs for the Palestinians within a decade.

But the Palestinian Authority is boycotting the so-called Peace to Prosperity workshop in Bahrain.

Palestinians have accused Trump of seeking to buy them off and deprive them of an independent state.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said Sunday he was confident the Bahrain conference would fail.

"We need the economic (support), the money and the assistance, but before everything there is a political solution," he said.

"For America to turn the whole cause from a political issue into an economic one, we cannot accept this." 
&nbsp;

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he is ready to "consider" a US plan to resolve his country's long-running conflict with the Palestinians. "We will consider the American proposal in a fair and open way," he said as he hosted US national security adviser John Bolton.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he is ready to "consider" a US plan to resolve his country's long-running conflict with the Palestinians. "We will consider the American proposal in a fair and open way," he said as he hosted US national security adviser John Bolton. The Palestinian leadership has already rejected the plan, citing US "bias" after the White House recognised bitterly divided Jerusalem as Israel's capital. "I don't understand how the Palestinians rejected the plan even before knowing what it contained," said Netanyahu. "That's not how you move forward." He was talking during a visit to the Jordan valley, Israeli-occupied territory he has pledged never to give up in a peace deal. "To those who say that to obtain peace, Israel must leave the Jordan Valley, I say, it will not bring peace -- it will bring war and terror," he said. "Israel's presence here must continue for Israel's security and the security of all." Bolton was being hosted by the Israeli leader for talks on "regional security", according to the White House. His visit came amid a tense standoff between the US and Iran following a series of tanker attacks and the shooting down of an American drone. The White House is set next week to present details for the first time of its long-awaited peace initiative being formulated by US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner. US officials say it aims to raise more than $50 billion and create more than a million jobs for the Palestinians within a decade. But the Palestinian Authority is boycotting the so-called Peace to Prosperity workshop in Bahrain. Palestinians have accused Trump of seeking to buy them off and deprive them of an independent state. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said Sunday he was confident the Bahrain conference would fail. "We need the economic (support), the money and the assistance, but before everything there is a political solution," he said. "For America to turn the whole cause from a political issue into an economic one, we cannot accept this."

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu ready to 'consider' long-awaited US peace plan

Palestinians urged Egypt and Jordan on Wednesday to reconsider their attendance at a US-led conference on June 25-26 in Bahrain, voicing concern it would weaken any Arab opposition to Washington's coming peace plan.

The United States has billed the gathering as a workshop to boost the Palestinian economy as part of a broader diplomatic effort widely referred to as President &nbsp;Donald Trump's "deal of the century" to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The participation of Egypt and Jordan is considered especially important because they have historically been key players in Middle East peace efforts and are also the only Arab states to have reached peace agreements with Israel.

But Palestinians are boycotting the meeting, saying Trump's peace plan is likely to be heavily weighted in favour of Israel and to quash their aspirations for statehood in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Israeli and US officials say Israel has yet to be formally invited, given discussions between Washington and Bahrain over what might be an appropriate makeup of an Israeli delegation.

"The Palestinian Authority urges Egypt and Jordan not to attend the Bahrain conference," Ibrahim Melhem, a spokesman for the Palestinian government said on Facebook after US officials announced the two nations, along with Morocco, would attend.

Melhem urged "all brotherly and friendly countries to withdraw", adding that participation "would carry wrong messages about the unity of the Arab position" on rejecting Trump's plan.

While the precise outlines of the draft plan have yet to be revealed, Palestinian and Arab sources who have been briefed about it say it has jettisoned the two-state solution. The plan faces possible delays due to political upheaval in Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must fight another election after failing to form a government.

US Pressure

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said this month that Cairo would not accept anything the Palestinians did not support.

Tareq Baconi, an analyst with the International Crisis Group who is based in Jerusalem, said both Egypt and Jordan had faced heavy US pressure to go to Bahrain.

"This is a significant disappointment for the Palestinians because it is a breaking of the ranks in the Arab region. Their call to boycott has not been heeded," Baconi told Reuters.

After Israel, Egypt is the largest beneficiary of US military aid and received $1.3 billion in 2018. Pro-Western Jordan was allocated $443 million in US military assistance last year. Both countries border Palestinian areas and Israel.

US3 officials have said they are inviting economic and finance ministers, as well as business leaders from the region and around the world, to discuss investment in the troubled Palestinian economy in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

Global financial bodies including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank will be represented.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have also confirmed their attendance, a White House official said.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said on Tuesday that Lebanon would not attend because "the Palestinians will not participate, and we prefer to have a clear idea of the proposed peace plan, as we have not been consulted or informed about it".

In a letter on Monday to diplomatic missions, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the Palestinian economic crisis, which the conference is to address, was actually the result of what he called a "financial war waged by the Trump administration" as well as Israeli occupation.

Washington ceased its aid to the Palestinians early this year, dealing President Mahmoud Abbas another blow after recognising contested Jerusalem as Israel's capital in late 2017 and moving the US embassy to the holy city from Tel Aviv.

"If anyone is interested in the economic development of Palestine, they should tackle the root causes that prevented Palestinians from reaching their full potential in our country," Erekat said.

Palestinians urged Egypt and Jordan on Wednesday to reconsider their attendance at a US-led conference on June 25-26 in Bahrain, voicing concern it would weaken any Arab opposition to Washington's coming peace plan.

Palestinians urged Egypt and Jordan on Wednesday to reconsider their attendance at a US-led conference on June 25-26 in Bahrain, voicing concern it would weaken any Arab opposition to Washington's coming peace plan. The United States has billed the gathering as a workshop to boost the Palestinian economy as part of a broader diplomatic effort widely referred to as President Donald Trump's "deal of the century" to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The participation of Egypt and Jordan is considered especially important because they have historically been key players in Middle East peace efforts and are also the only Arab states to have reached peace agreements with Israel. But Palestinians are boycotting the meeting, saying Trump's peace plan is likely to be heavily weighted in favour of Israel and to quash their aspirations for statehood in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israeli and US officials say Israel has yet to be formally invited, given discussions between Washington and Bahrain over what might be an appropriate makeup of an Israeli delegation. "The Palestinian Authority urges Egypt and Jordan not to attend the Bahrain conference," Ibrahim Melhem, a spokesman for the Palestinian government said on Facebook after US officials announced the two nations, along with Morocco, would attend. Melhem urged "all brotherly and friendly countries to withdraw", adding that participation "would carry wrong messages about the unity of the Arab position" on rejecting Trump's plan. While the precise outlines of the draft plan have yet to be revealed, Palestinian and Arab sources who have been briefed about it say it has jettisoned the two-state solution. The plan faces possible delays due to political upheaval in Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must fight another election after failing to form a government. US Pressure Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said this month that Cairo would not accept anything the Palestinians did not support. Tareq Baconi, an analyst with the International Crisis Group who is based in Jerusalem, said both Egypt and Jordan had faced heavy US pressure to go to Bahrain. "This is a significant disappointment for the Palestinians because it is a breaking of the ranks in the Arab region. Their call to boycott has not been heeded," Baconi told Reuters. After Israel, Egypt is the largest beneficiary of US military aid and received $1.3 billion in 2018. Pro-Western Jordan was allocated $443 million in US military assistance last year. Both countries border Palestinian areas and Israel. US3 officials have said they are inviting economic and finance ministers, as well as business leaders from the region and around the world, to discuss investment in the troubled Palestinian economy in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. Global financial bodies including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank will be represented. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have also confirmed their attendance, a White House official said. Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said on Tuesday that Lebanon would not attend because "the Palestinians will not participate, and we prefer to have a clear idea of the proposed peace plan, as we have not been consulted or informed about it". In a letter on Monday to diplomatic missions, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the Palestinian economic crisis, which the conference is to address, was actually the result of what he called a "financial war waged by the Trump administration" as well as Israeli occupation. Washington ceased its aid to the Palestinians early this year, dealing President Mahmoud Abbas another blow after recognising contested Jerusalem as Israel's capital in late 2017 and moving the US embassy to the holy city from Tel Aviv. "If anyone is interested in the economic development of Palestine, they should tackle the root causes that prevented Palestinians from reaching their full potential in our country," Erekat said.

Palestinians urge Egypt, Jordan to reconsider going to US-led conference

US President Donald Trump on Monday entered the swirling debate over a US Congresswoman's comments regarding the Holocaust that Republicans have condemned as anti-Semitic.

The uproar began last week when Rashida Tlaib, a freshman congresswoman in the House of Representatives whose parents are Palestinian immigrants, said in an interview that she finds "a kind of calming feeling," in the fact that Palestinians were involved in creating "a safe haven for Jews."

"There's a kind of a calming feeling, I always tell folks, when I think of the Holocaust and the tragedy of the Holocaust, and the fact that it was my ancestors -- Palestinians -- who lost their land and some lost their lives," she told Yahoo's "Skullduggery" podcast on Friday.

"All of it was in the name of trying to create a safe haven for Jews, post-the Holocaust, post-the tragedy and the horrific persecution of Jews across the world at that time," she said, adding, "I love the fact that it was my ancestors that provided that."

Trump laid into Tlaib, saying the congresswoman "obviously has tremendous hatred of Israel and the Jewish people. Can you imagine what would happen if I ever said what she said, and says?"

Top House Republican Liz Cheney also seized on the remarks, saying they represented "vile anti-Semitism" and called on the House's Democratic leadership to take action.

"This must cross the line, even for them," she tweeted.

Tlaib said on Twitter her remarks were taken out of context and that "All of you who are trying to silence me will fail miserably."

She was backed up by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who said "Republicans’ desperate attempts to smear (Tlaib) &amp; misrepresent her comments are outrageous," adding that Trump and Republicans needed to apologise.

Yair Rosenberg, a writer for the online Jewish magazine Tablet, said Tlaib's comments were historically inaccurate but not anti-Semitic.&nbsp;

"Tlaib said she got a 'calming feeling' NOT about the Holocaust, but about how Palestinians gave refuge to Jews from it. This is ahistorical," he wrote on Twitter, "but it isn't anti-Semitic."

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Rashida Tlaib said she got a "calming feeling" NOT about the Holocaust, but about how Palestinians gave refuge to Jews from it. This is ahistorical (the local Arabs rioted &amp; got the British to halt Jewish immigration, and their Mufti was Hitler's ally), but it isn't anti-Semitic.
— (((Yair Rosenberg))) (@Yair_Rosenberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/Yair_Rosenberg/status/1127958445599199233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Bend The Arc, a progressive Jewish association, also defended the congresswoman.

"The attacks on Rashida Tlaib are vile &amp; baseless. She did not minimize the tragedy of the Holocaust," the group tweeted. "Shame on GOP leadership for weaponizing antisemitism &amp; Jewish trauma to attack progressive leaders of colour and push Islamophobia."

Similar accusations of anti-Semitism were levelled against Ilhan Omar, who after Tlaib is the only other Muslim in Congress after she said earlier this year that American support for Israel was driven by money from a pro-Israel lobbying group.

US President Donald Trump on Monday entered the swirling debate over a US Congresswoman's comments regarding the Holocaust that Republicans have condemned as anti-Semitic.

US President Donald Trump on Monday entered the swirling debate over a US Congresswoman's comments regarding the Holocaust that Republicans have condemned as anti-Semitic. The uproar began last week when Rashida Tlaib, a freshman congresswoman in the House of Representatives whose parents are Palestinian immigrants, said in an interview that she finds "a kind of calming feeling," in the fact that Palestinians were involved in creating "a safe haven for Jews." "There's a kind of a calming feeling, I always tell folks, when I think of the Holocaust and the tragedy of the Holocaust, and the fact that it was my ancestors -- Palestinians -- who lost their land and some lost their lives," she told Yahoo's "Skullduggery" podcast on Friday. "All of it was in the name of trying to create a safe haven for Jews, post-the Holocaust, post-the tragedy and the horrific persecution of Jews across the world at that time," she said, adding, "I love the fact that it was my ancestors that provided that." Trump laid into Tlaib, saying the congresswoman "obviously has tremendous hatred of Israel and the Jewish people. Can you imagine what would happen if I ever said what she said, and says?" Top House Republican Liz Cheney also seized on the remarks, saying they represented "vile anti-Semitism" and called on the House's Democratic leadership to take action. "This must cross the line, even for them," she tweeted. Tlaib said on Twitter her remarks were taken out of context and that "All of you who are trying to silence me will fail miserably." She was backed up by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who said "Republicans’ desperate attempts to smear (Tlaib) & misrepresent her comments are outrageous," adding that Trump and Republicans needed to apologise. Yair Rosenberg, a writer for the online Jewish magazine Tablet, said Tlaib's comments were historically inaccurate but not anti-Semitic. "Tlaib said she got a 'calming feeling' NOT about the Holocaust, but about how Palestinians gave refuge to Jews from it. This is ahistorical," he wrote on Twitter, "but it isn't anti-Semitic." Rashida Tlaib said she got a "calming feeling" NOT about the Holocaust, but about how Palestinians gave refuge to Jews from it. This is ahistorical (the local Arabs rioted & got the British to halt Jewish immigration, and their Mufti was Hitler's ally), but it isn't anti-Semitic. — (((Yair Rosenberg))) (@Yair_Rosenberg) May 13, 2019 × Bend The Arc, a progressive Jewish association, also defended the congresswoman. "The attacks on Rashida Tlaib are vile & baseless. She did not minimize the tragedy of the Holocaust," the group tweeted. "Shame on GOP leadership for weaponizing antisemitism & Jewish trauma to attack progressive leaders of colour and push Islamophobia." Similar accusations of anti-Semitism were levelled against Ilhan Omar, who after Tlaib is the only other Muslim in Congress after she said earlier this year that American support for Israel was driven by money from a pro-Israel lobbying group.

Uproar follows US congresswoman Rashida Tlaib's Holocaust remarks

Israel reopened Sunday its crossings with the blockaded Gaza Strip after closing them during a deadly escalation earlier this month, an official said, as a fragile truce held.

Both the Erez crossing for people and Kerem Shalom crossing for goods were open and operating, a spokeswoman for COGAT, the defence ministry unit that oversees the crossings, said in a statement.

Both had been closed on May 4, when Gaza rulers Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad fired hundreds of rockets at Israel, with the army striking dozens of targets in Gaza in response.

Four Israeli civilians and 25 Palestinians, including at least nine militants, were killed in the two-day flare-up, which ended on Monday in a tentative truce.

Palestinian officials said Israel had agreed to ease its crippling decade-long blockade of the impoverished enclave in exchange for calm.

Israel did not publicly confirm the deal, but on Friday lifted the ban it had imposed on Palestinian fishing boats operating off Gaza.

Israel says its blockade is necessary to isolate Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas, with whom it has fought three wars since 2008.

But critics say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's two million residents.

Israel reopened Sunday its crossings with the blockaded Gaza Strip after closing them during a deadly escalation earlier this month, an official said, as a fragile truce held.

Israel reopened Sunday its crossings with the blockaded Gaza Strip after closing them during a deadly escalation earlier this month, an official said, as a fragile truce held. Both the Erez crossing for people and Kerem Shalom crossing for goods were open and operating, a spokeswoman for COGAT, the defence ministry unit that oversees the crossings, said in a statement. Both had been closed on May 4, when Gaza rulers Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad fired hundreds of rockets at Israel, with the army striking dozens of targets in Gaza in response. Four Israeli civilians and 25 Palestinians, including at least nine militants, were killed in the two-day flare-up, which ended on Monday in a tentative truce. Palestinian officials said Israel had agreed to ease its crippling decade-long blockade of the impoverished enclave in exchange for calm. Israel did not publicly confirm the deal, but on Friday lifted the ban it had imposed on Palestinian fishing boats operating off Gaza. Israel says its blockade is necessary to isolate Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas, with whom it has fought three wars since 2008. But critics say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's two million residents.

Israel reopens Gaza crossings as calm restored

An Israeli man was killed overnight after a rocket from the Gaza Strip struck the city of Ashkelon, officials said Sunday.

Police said the man died from critical wounds suffered in the rocket strike after being taken to hospital.&nbsp;

A spokeswoman for the Barzilai hospital in Ashkelon identified the man as Moshe Agadi, a 58-year-old father of four from the city, who was outside his home when a rocket hit.

He was the first Israeli killed in the flare-up of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-palestinians-killed-as-rocket-barrages-from-gaza-draw-israeli-strikes-216001">violence that began</a> Saturday.

More than 250 rockets have been fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip since Saturday, Israel's military says, and Israel has responded with air and tank strikes.

The latest flare-up came with Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules the blockaded Gaza Strip, seeking further concessions from Israel under the ceasefire.

Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip have fought three wars since 2008 and fears remain of a fourth.

An Israeli man was killed overnight after a rocket from the Gaza Strip struck the city of Ashkelon, officials said Sunday. Police said the man died from critical wounds suffered in the rocket strike after being taken to hospital.

An Israeli man was killed overnight after a rocket from the Gaza Strip struck the city of Ashkelon, officials said Sunday. Police said the man died from critical wounds suffered in the rocket strike after being taken to hospital. A spokeswoman for the Barzilai hospital in Ashkelon identified the man as Moshe Agadi, a 58-year-old father of four from the city, who was outside his home when a rocket hit. He was the first Israeli killed in the flare-up of violence that began Saturday. More than 250 rockets have been fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip since Saturday, Israel's military says, and Israel has responded with air and tank strikes. The latest flare-up came with Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules the blockaded Gaza Strip, seeking further concessions from Israel under the ceasefire. Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip have fought three wars since 2008 and fears remain of a fourth.

Israeli man killed in rocket strike from Gaza: Police