Airstrikes, rocket attacks and street violence are reaching new levels of intensity in Israel and Gaza, with at least 90 people dead from the unrest as of Thursday. Many large international air carriers have now halted flights to Tel Aviv, a key target of rocket barrages.
The violence has killed at least 103 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including at least 27 children, according to Palestinian health officials. Israeli officials say seven people in Israel have been killed, including two children.
The turmoil is taking many shapes. Israeli warplanes have struck more than 600 sites in Gaza. Palestinian militants have fired more than 1,500 rockets at Israel.
Even in the streets of normally quiet cities in Israel, mobs of Jewish or Palestinian citizens have torched cars and beaten people. Palestinian Arabs make up about 20% of Israel’s population.
‘It’s Against All Of Us’: Israel-Hamas Violence, As Seen From The Ground
Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza have sometimes struck densely populated civilian areas, and they have destroyed some multi-story residential buildings it says are also used by militants. Palestinians say the Israeli military has warned civilians by phone to evacuate buildings ahead of a strike.
Along with rockets, militants in Gaza have also deployed anti-tank missiles and drones in their attacks. Israel says its Iron Dome missile defense system has intercepted many of those strikes.
Airlines canceling flights to Israel’s main international airport near Tel Aviv include United, American and Delta, along with British Airways and Lufthansa.
