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Deadly violence between Israel and Palestinians Jerusalem, May 18 (AFP) May 18, 2021 Israel and the Palestinians are mired in their worst conflict in years with Israel pounding the Gaza Strip with air strikes and artillery and Hamas militants lobbing rockets into the Jewish state. This is a recap of the escalating violence since heavy exchanges of fire began on May 10.
The exchanges of fire come on the fourth day of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces in east Jerusalem. The clashes were sparked by a years-long bid by Jewish settlers to take over Arab homes. The next day, Hamas rains rockets down on Tel Aviv after an Israeli air strike destroys a Gaza City tower block where senior Hamas officials are said to have offices.
It declares a state of emergency in Lod near Tel Aviv after police report rioting by some Arab residents following the death of an Arab Israeli. More than 400 people, Jews and Arabs, are arrested.
The next day Israel masses armoured vehicles and troops along Gaza's border. The defence ministry gives the army the green light to mobilise thousands of reservists. On May 15, an Israeli air strike on a building in Gaza's Shati refugee camp kills 10 members of an extended family. Hours later a strike flattens a 13-floor building in Gaza City housing Qatar-based Al Jazeera television and the US news agency the Associated Press. US President Joe Biden expresses his "grave concern" over the strike with the White House saying it has cautioned Israel about independent media.
On May 16, Israel says strikes destroyed the home of Hamas' political leader in Gaza. Medics say raids across the territory left at least 42 dead, the highest daily death toll. UN chief Antonio Guterres appeals for an immediate end to the "utterly appalling" violence.
The US blocks -- for the third time in a week -- the adoption of a joint UN Security Council statement calling for a halt to the violence and the protection of civilians. With no sign of a let up, at least 212 Palestinians in the crowded coastal enclave of Gaza have so far been killed, including 61 children. More than 1,300 have been injured. Israel's army says over 3,220 rockets have now been fired from Gaza, killing 10 people, including one child, and injuring almost 300.
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