ISRAEL has bombarded Gaza with air strikes as 9,000 reserve troops have been called up amid escalating violence with Hamas.
The Israel Defence Force (IDF) said air and ground forces are launching a series of attacks pummelling targets in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas has fired 1,600 rockets from Gaza as the Israeli military 'makes plans for a ground invasion' in the worst fighting in the area since 2014.
Israel has threatened to invade Gaza and has killed at least 11 Hamas leaders following renewed rocket attacks.
At least 119 Palestinians have died in the violence so far including 31 children and nine women.
Eight people in Israel, including two children and an elderly woman on her way to a shelter, have also been killed, medical officials have confirmed.
One of those dead in Israel includes an Indian worker.
More than 830 people have been wounded.
Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hamas that it "will pay a heavy price for their belligerence" following a rocket attack on Jerusalem on Monday.
Read our Israel-Gaza live blog below for all the latest news and updates…
- Caroline Mortimer
WHAT IS ZIONISM?
Zionism is “a religious and nationalist ideology”.
The Zionist movement works for the return of the Jewish people to Israel and the maintenance of Jewish sovereignty there.
Zionism is a “movement to create a Jewish state in the Middle East, roughly corresponding to the historical land of Israel, and thus support for the modern state of Israel”, says BBC News.
- Caroline Mortimer
BIDEN CALLS FOR PEACE BUT REITERATES SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL
U.S. President Joe Biden said he spoke with Benjamin Netanyahu about calming the fighting but also backed the Israeli leader by saying "there has not been a significant overreaction."
He said the goal now is to "get to a point where there is a significant reduction in attacks, particularly rocket attacks." He called the effort "a work in progress."
- Caroline Mortimer
UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO MEET TO DISCUSS CONFLICT
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, said the UN Security Council would meet on Sunday to discuss the situation in Gaza and Israel.
- Caroline Mortimer
ISRAEL MISSILES KNOCK HAMAS ROCKETS OUT OF THE SKY
Hamas launching bomb-laden DRONES into Israel as fighter jets filmed blasting them out the sky
- Caroline Mortimer
TUNNEL STRIKES (CONTINUED)
Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman, said tanks stationed near the border fired 50 rounds.
It was part of a large operation that also involved airstrikes and was aimed at destroying tunnels beneath Gaza City used by militants to evade surveillance and airstrikes, which the military refers to as "the Metro."
"As always, the aim is to strike military targets and to minimize collateral damage and civilian casualties," he said.
"Unlike our very elaborate efforts to clear civilian areas before we strike high-rise or large buildings inside Gaza, that wasn't feasible this time."
- Caroline Mortimer
ISRAEL TARGETS TUNNELS
Israel fired artillery and mounted extensive air strikes on Friday against a network of Palestinian militant tunnels under Gaza that it dubbed "the Metro", amid persistent rocket attacks on Israeli towns.
An Israeli military spokesman said that while ground forces had taken part in the 40-minute, pre-dawn offensive, none had crossed into the Gaza Strip, as hostilities entered their fifth day with no sign of abating.
Health officials in northern Gaza said a woman and her three children were killed during the Israeli operation and that their bodies were recovered from the rubble of their home.
Rocket barrages against southern Israel swiftly followed the Israeli strikes, which the spokesman said included artillery and tank fire from inside Israeli territory.
- Niamh Cavanagh
AIRSTRIKES AT NIGHT
Missiles are seen in the night sky fired towards Israel from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip.
- Niamh Cavanagh
TAKING COVER
A Palestinian girl walks down a hall in a UN school in Gaza where her family are sheltering after fleeing their home.
- Niamh Cavanagh
WAR FOOTING
Israeli troops are attacking the Gaza Strip, officials say as 9,000 reserve troops have been called up amid escalating violence with Hamas.
The Israel Defence Force (IDF) said soldiers on the ground had entered the Palestinian enclave as its fighter jets continued to pummel targets belonging to militants.
The IDF tweeted: "IDF air and ground troops are currently attacking in the Gaza Strip."
Military spokesman Jonathan Conricus said: "There are ground troops attacking in Gaza, together with air forces as well."
The death toll in the conflict has reached at least 110 people including dozens of children.
Earlier today, Israel said it was massing troops along the Gaza frontier and calling up 9,000 reservists ahead of a possible ground invasion of the Hamas-ruled territory.
- Niamh Cavanagh
TERROR IN THE SKIES
British Airways, United, Delta and American Airlines have SUSPENDED flights to Israel over fears of an MH17-style disaster.
Aircrafts have been diverted from Tel Aviv's main airport and carriers have temporarily suspended flights to and from Ben Gurion airport.
Incoming aircraft have been re-routed to Ramon airport in southern Israel as Hamas launched a series of deadly rockets through the skies.
The terror group claimed Ramon had also been targeted, but this was dismissed by Israeli officials.
- Niamh Cavanagh
WHAT IS ZIONISM?
Zionism is "a religious and nationalist ideology".
The Zionist movement works for the return of the Jewish people to Israel and the maintenance of Jewish sovereignty there.
Zionism is a "movement to create a Jewish state in the Middle East, roughly corresponding to the historical land of Israel, and thus support for the modern state of Israel", says BBC News.
- Niamh Cavanagh
WHY WAS ISRAEL CREATED?
Between 1896 and 1948, hundreds of thousands of Jews resettled from Europe to what was then British-controlled Palestine, including large numbers forced out of Europe during the Holocaust, explains Vox.
The dilemma that faced post-war British politicians was that Britain had made too many promises to too many different interests, explains Marie-Astrid Purton of Warwick University.
The British had promised the Arabs that Palestine would fall into their jurisdiction, but at the same time, they had also promised the Jews a national home.
Thus the Government had an obligation to both peoples in a situation that demanded a compromise, one that would please no-one, she adds.
- Niamh Cavanagh
WHAT IS THE MAP LIKE OF THE ISRAEL AND PALESTINE DIVIDE?
- Niamh Cavanagh
WHAT IS PALESTINE?
Palestine is a small region of land in the Mediterranean and is home to the Arabic speaking Palestinian community.
The history of Palestine has been marred by frequent political conflict and violence because of its importance to several major world religions.
This is because it sits as a gateway between Africa and Asia.
In the past 100 years this conflict has been between the Arabic and Jewish communities who have clashed over who owns the region and who has the right to live there.
Ottoman rule over Palestine came to an end after the First World War.
Palestine was among former Ottoman territories placed under UK administration by the League of Nations in 1922.
All of these territories eventually became fully independent states – except Palestine.
In 1947, the UK turned the "Palestine problem" over to the United Nations.
- Niamh Cavanagh
US BLOCKS SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING ON CONFLICT
The United States has blocked an urgent UN Security Council meeting originally set for Friday on the new flare-up between Israel and the Palestinians, diplomats said.
"There will be no SC meeting tomorrow," said a spokesman for the UN delegation of China, which currently presides over the council.
"The United States did not agree with a videoconference tomorrow," one diplomat said. Another diplomat said the US wants the meeting put off until Tuesday, which would undermine the sense that it is of an urgent nature.
Meetings like this via videoconference require the support of all 15 members of the council. In its statements this week on the Mideast crisis, the US has said Israel has the right to defend itself from rocket attacks launched by the Islamist movement Hamas from the Gaza Strip, but it also called for de-escalation of the conflict.
- Niamh Cavanagh
BIDEN URGES FEWER ROCKET ATTACKS AS ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT FLARES
U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday called for a de-escalation of violence in the Middle East as the conflict in Gaza intensified, saying he wants to see a significant reduction in rocket attacks.
Biden, speaking to reporters at the White House, also said he expects to have more talks with leaders in the region.
- Niamh Cavanagh
TERROR IN THE SKIES
British Airways, United, Delta and American Airlines have SUSPENDED flights to Israel over fears of an MH17-style disaster.
Aircrafts have been diverted from Tel Aviv's main airport and carriers have temporarily suspended flights to and from Ben Gurion airport.
Incoming aircraft have been re-routed to Ramon airport in southern Israel as Hamas launched a series of deadly rockets through the skies.
The terror group claimed Ramon had also been targeted, but this was dismissed by Israeli officials.
- Niamh Cavanagh
UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO MEET TO DISCUSS CONFLICT, US SAYS
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, said the UN Security Council would meet on Sunday to discuss the situation in Gaza and Israel.
- Niamh Cavanagh
MORE THAN 100 AIRSTRIKES TURNS NIGHT INTO DAY AT GAZA
This footage shows the night sky turning bright from more than 100 reported airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.
- Niamh Cavanagh
ISRAELI FORCES ANNOUNCE TROOPS ARE ATTACKING GAZA
In a statement posted to Twitter, the Israeli Defense Forces said that ground troops and IDF air have begun attacking in Gaza.
- Niamh Cavanagh
PALESTINIANS FLEE THEIR HOMES IN GAZA
Palestinian families are pictured in a street after evacuating their homes east of Gaza City.
Credit: AFP Credit: AFP Credit: AFP
- Niamh Cavanagh
‘LITTLE B******S’
Tyson Fury has slammed hackers who posted a "Pray For Israel" message on his Instagram as a firestorm rages in Gaza.
The heavyweight champ hit back after criticism online from fans who thought it meant he was taking Israel's side in the bloody conflict.
The rogue Instagram story featured a Star of David flag along with the words "Pray For Israel" and a bible verse.
Last night Fury posted a video on Twitter slamming those behind the hoax and insisting he had nothing to do with it.
The Gypsy King said: "Whoever's on my Story: get the f*** off there, you little b******s. I don't get involved in any political conflicts or anything like that.
"As we all know, I am a man of the people. I represent all people from around the world – every country, not just one. We all know that's not a real post by the Gypsy King. God bless you all, peace out and God bless all the people who are in conflict at the moment."
- Niamh Cavanagh
DEATH TOLL CLIMBS AS ISRAEL CONTINUES AIRSTRIKES
The death toll in Gaza has soared above 100 as Israel pounded the areas with airstrikes while Hamas sent rockets deep to Israel.
- Niamh Cavanagh
AT LEAST 3 ROCKETS FIRED FROM LEBANON
Lebanese security forces have said that at least three rockets have been fired from south Lebanon toward Israel.
The rockets landed in the Mediterranean sea, the Israeli military has said.
It is unclear who was responsible for the attack or where the rockets landed.
- Niamh Cavanagh
ISRAEL BEGINS FIRING ARTILLERY AND TANK SHELLS INTO GAZA
Israel has begun firing artillery and tank shells into Gaza, and scores of families are fleeing their homes, Palestinian witnesses in the Gaza Strip said Thursday.
The use of artillery fire marks an escalation in Israels four-day-old offensive in Gaza and raises the likelihood of civilian casualties. The attacks occurred in northern communities near the Israeli frontier and in eastern Gaza City.
Resident Ibrahim Jamal said about 200 people have sought shelter in a United Nations school.
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