Israel Declares Emergency In Lod As Unrest Spreads
Israel has declared a state of emergency in the central city of Lod after rioting by Israeli Arabs, as conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants intensified.
Palestinian militants fired hundreds of rockets deep into Israel, while Israel carried out heavy airstrikes on Gaza.
At least 40 people have died in some of the worst violence in years.
Palestinian militants said they fired hundreds of missiles at the Israeli city of Tel Aviv after an Israeli air strike demolished a tower block in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.
Israel’s military says it is targeting militants in Gaza in response to rocket attacks on Jerusalem and other areas.
The fighting came after weeks of rising tensions that were stoked by violent confrontations between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters at a site in Jerusalem that is holy to both Muslims and Jews.
The international community has urged both sides to end the escalation. The UN’s Middle East peace envoy, Tor Wennesland, said they were “escalating towards a full-scale war”.
At least 35 Palestinians, including 10 children, and five Israelis have been killed in the violence so far, according to health officials.
