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https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/15/middleeast/israel-palestinian-conflict-intl/index.html
Israeli strikes hit home in Gaza refugee camp, media offices as conflict intensifies
By Ibrahim Dahman, Abeer Salman, Kareem Khadder, Mohammad Tawfeeq, Ben Wedeman and Hadas Gold, CNN
Updated 2:44 PM ET, Sat May 15, 2021
Editor's Note: This story contains graphic images. Viewer discretion is advised.
(CNN)Israel bombed a house in Gaza where a family had gathered to celebrate the end of Ramadan and an office housing international media as a new flurry of Hamas missiles rained down on Tel Aviv Saturday, increasing fears that a de-escalation of the conflict could soon be out of reach.
The Al Jala'a building, which was hit by an Israeli airstrike on Saturday afternoon, contained offices for Al Jazeera and the Associated Press, among other media outlets, marking the latest escalation of violence that has spread across Israel and the Palestinian territories this week -- the conflict's bloodiest in recent years.
Israel launched more airstrikes on Gaza overnight, with Hamas retaliating with missiles on Saturday. In less than a week, Israeli airstrikes killed more than 130 people and at least 1,000 others injured in Gaza alone, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said, as rioting and mob violence between Arabs and Jews marred cities and towns throughout Israel.
Hamas fired dozens of missiles towards Tel Aviv on Saturday, with Al-Qassam Brigades, the militant wing of Hamas, saying in a statement the move was in direct retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on a Gazan refugee camp. A 50-year old man was killed early Saturday afternoon after a rocket hit a series of buildings in a residential area in a Tel Aviv suburb called Ramat Gan, bringing Israel's death toll to 10, according to Israel's emergency service.
Members of the Israeli emergency services work at a site in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, on May 15, after rockets were launched from Gaza.
A baby is brought to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City for treatment on May 15, after being injured in an Israeli airstrike, which destroyed a 3-story house and killed 10 members of the child's family.
Early Saturday, an infant was the lone survivor in a house that was hit and destroyed in an Israeli air strike hit in the al-Shati refugee camp, killing 10 members of the infant's family -- including eight children, according to the Palestinian News Agency WAFA. At least 20 other Palestinians were wounded after several nearby houses were damaged in the Israeli airstrike, it added.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its forces struck several positions in Gaza late Friday, including a military intelligence site. "Hamas is paying the price for its terror," it said in a Twitter post on Saturday.
Militants in Gaza responded to the airstrikes on the refugee camp on Saturday with rockets targeting the Israeli cities of Beersheba, Ashdod, and Sderot. The IDF posted a video on Twitter of a blazing fire in Ashdod, warning that the move "won't go unanswered."
On the Al Jala'a building strike, the Israeli Airforce said Saturday that fighter jets targeted a building which was housing Hamas military intelligence assets and using media outlets as "shields."
The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, however has accused the IDF of "direct targeting of crowded civilian areas" and failing to take precautionary measures to spare civilian lives.
By Saturday, at least 139 people had been killed in Gaza, including at least 39 children, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported, with the number of injured Palestinians in Gaza rising to at least 1,000 people. At least 254 of the injured are children who have sustained injuries as a result of Israeli airstrikes, it said on Friday.
Ashraf al-Qudra, the spokesman for Gaza health ministry, urged "the international community of the necessity to curb the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip," adding that "we monitor these violations against Palestinian families, and this is a blatant violation."
An Israeli woman inspects the damage to her house following a rocket attack from Gaza, in the southern Israeli city of Sderot, on May 15.
Palestinians inspect destroyed buildings following overnight Israeli airstrikes in the town of Beit Hanoun, Gaza, on Friday, May 14.
US President Joe Biden's administration, which has said its focus is on de-escalation and working with allies in the region on that goal, sent US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Israel and Palestinian Affairs Hady Amr to Israel on Friday. The US Embassy in Jerusalem said in a post on Twitter that Amr's trip would "reinforce the need to work toward a sustainable calm, recognizing Israel's right to self-defense. Israelis and Palestinians deserve equal measures of freedom, security, dignity and prosperity."
But efforts at international diplomacy so far appear to have stalled. A UN Security Council meeting on the violence will take place Sunday morning; the US blocked previous Security Council efforts to meet, preferring direct diplomacy on the conflict rather than discussion in an international forum.
An Israeli military official said on Friday that Israel is prepared to continue hitting "quality targets" for an "extended period of time." Approximately 2,300 rockets have been fired from Gaza towards Israel, of which approximately 380 failed launches fell in Gaza, the IDF said on Saturday, adding that their Iron Dome Aerial Defense System has intercepted approximately 1,000 rockets.
Following the strike on the Al Jala'a building Saturday, the Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson said: "After the strike on the civilian tower in Gaza, the residents of Tel Aviv and central Israel should be prepared for our quaking response."
And that violence has boiled over to the occupied West Bank, where on Friday, at least 10 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces during violent clashes in towns and cities across the territory, according to the Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry.
Israeli soldiers operate during clashes with Palestinian protesters in the city of Hebron, West Bank, on May 14.
The violence there marks the largest number of people killed in a single day in the West Bank in years. The Palestinian Red Crescent said Palestinians in the West Bank had been targeted with live ammunition, as well as rubber bullets and teargas. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the majority of those who were injured on Friday were "shot by live ammunition," saying that more than 500 Palestinians have been injured since clashes erupted earlier this week.
A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement live ammunition was used after "crowd dispersal means" (referring to tear gas and rubber-coated bullets) had failed to stop the unrest.
The recent conflict began at the start of the week, fueled by controversy over planned evictions of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem and restrictions at a popular meeting point near the Old City. It has since escalated rapidly into one of the worst rounds of violence the area has seen since the 2014 Gaza War, which saw more than 2,200 Gazans killed during the fighting, approximately half of them civilians, including more than 550 children, according to a United Nations report.
Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
A streak of light is seen from Ashkelon, Israel, as Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from Gaza on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Palestinians inspect the rubble of the destroyed Hanadi tower after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on May 11.
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A damaged house is pictured in a residential neighborhood in Ashkelon, Israel, on May 11, after rockets were fired from Gaza.
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Palestinian children inspect a damaged bedroom following an Israeli airstrike at al-Shati Refugee Camp in Gaza City on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system fires to intercept rockets launched from Gaza on May 11.
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Israeli firefighters take cover in Ashkelon as a siren sounds a warning of incoming rockets on May 11.
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Palestinians search for survivors under the rubble of a destroyed rooftop after a residential building was hit by Israeli missile strikes at the Shate refugee camp in Gaza City on May 11.
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Israeli security forces take cover in Ashkelon as rockets are launched from Gaza on May 11.
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The mother of Palestinian Hussain Hamad, 11, is comforted by mourners during his funeral in Beit Hanoun, Gaza, on May 11. The boy was killed during fire between Israel and Gaza.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Flames and smoke rise from buildings in southern Gaza during Israeli airstrikes on May 11.
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A Palestinian man inspects the rubble of a partially destroyed residential building after it was hit by Israeli missile strikes in Gaza City on May 11.
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An Israeli soldier checks a damaged apartment building in Ashkelon on May 11.
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Israeli rescue teams help residents in a residential neighborhood of Ashkelon on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
A Palestinian man runs from tear gas during clashes with Israeli security forces at the Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City on Monday, May 10.
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Israelis take part in the annual Jerusalem Day march on May 10, marking the reunification of Jerusalem after Israel captured the eastern part of the city from Jordan in the 1967 Six-Day War.
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Palestinians clash with Israeli security forces at the Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City on May 10.
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Palestinians are seen at the Aqsa Mosque compound during confrontations with Israeli police on May 10.
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Israeli police detain a Palestinian during clashes at the Aqsa Mosque on May 10.
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Palestinians place the Hamas movement flag atop the Aqsa mosque on May 10.
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A Palestinian walks next to a building destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Thursday, May 13.
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Israeli soldiers fire a 155mm self-propelled howitzer towards Gaza from their position near the southern Israeli city of Sderot on May 13.
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Israeli security forces detain a Palestinian man outside the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City on May 13.
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Julianna Sror views the damage to her apartment after it was hit by a rocket fired from Gaza overnight in Petah Tikva, Israel, on May 13.
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A fireball engulfs the Al-Walid building, which was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City early on May 13.
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A man checks damage following a rocket attack from Gaza in the central Israeli city of Petah Tikva on May 13.
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Muslims perform the morning Eid al-Fitr prayer, marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in the Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem on May 13.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
A passenger rolls his luggage at the nearly deserted Ben Gurion airport in Lod, Israel, on May 13. Global airlines are canceling flights to Israel as clashes intensify between the country's military and Palestinian militants.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Israeli police patrol Lod during clashes on Wednesday, May 12.
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Mourners surround the body of Lea Yom Tov, an Israeli woman killed by a rocket attack from Gaza, during her funeral in Rishon LeZion, Israel, on May 12.
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Palestinians inspect a vehicle destroyed by an Israeli airstrike after the bodies of its occupants were retrieved in Gaza City on May 12.
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A man walks through debris after a rocket launched from Gaza struck an area in Holon, Israel, on May 12.
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An aerial view on May 12 shows the remains of a Gaza City tower building that was destroyed in Israeli airstrikes.
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Torah scrolls, Jewish holy scriptures, are removed from a synagogue that was burned during confrontations between demonstrators and police in Lod, Israel, on May 12.
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Smoke billows from an Israeli airstrike on the Hanadi compound in Gaza City on Tuesday, May 11.
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An Israeli firefighter extinguishes a burning bus in Holon, Israel, after it was hit by a rocket fired from Gaza on May 11.
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A stun grenade fired by Israeli forces explodes as Palestinians take part in an anti-Israel protest in Hebron, West Bank, on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
People sit on a staircase of a house in Ashkelon, Israel, as rockets are fired from Gaza on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
A streak of light is seen from Ashkelon, Israel, as Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from Gaza on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Palestinians inspect the rubble of the destroyed Hanadi tower after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
A damaged house is pictured in a residential neighborhood in Ashkelon, Israel, on May 11, after rockets were fired from Gaza.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Palestinian children inspect a damaged bedroom following an Israeli airstrike at al-Shati Refugee Camp in Gaza City on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system fires to intercept rockets launched from Gaza on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Israeli firefighters take cover in Ashkelon as a siren sounds a warning of incoming rockets on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Palestinians search for survivors under the rubble of a destroyed rooftop after a residential building was hit by Israeli missile strikes at the Shate refugee camp in Gaza City on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Israeli security forces take cover in Ashkelon as rockets are launched from Gaza on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
The mother of Palestinian Hussain Hamad, 11, is comforted by mourners during his funeral in Beit Hanoun, Gaza, on May 11. The boy was killed during fire between Israel and Gaza.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Flames and smoke rise from buildings in southern Gaza during Israeli airstrikes on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
A Palestinian man inspects the rubble of a partially destroyed residential building after it was hit by Israeli missile strikes in Gaza City on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
An Israeli soldier checks a damaged apartment building in Ashkelon on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Israeli rescue teams help residents in a residential neighborhood of Ashkelon on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
A Palestinian man runs from tear gas during clashes with Israeli security forces at the Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City on Monday, May 10.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Israelis take part in the annual Jerusalem Day march on May 10, marking the reunification of Jerusalem after Israel captured the eastern part of the city from Jordan in the 1967 Six-Day War.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Palestinians clash with Israeli security forces at the Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City on May 10.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Palestinians are seen at the Aqsa Mosque compound during confrontations with Israeli police on May 10.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Israeli police detain a Palestinian during clashes at the Aqsa Mosque on May 10.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Palestinians place the Hamas movement flag atop the Aqsa mosque on May 10.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
A Palestinian walks next to a building destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Thursday, May 13.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Israeli soldiers fire a 155mm self-propelled howitzer towards Gaza from their position near the southern Israeli city of Sderot on May 13.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Israeli security forces detain a Palestinian man outside the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City on May 13.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Julianna Sror views the damage to her apartment after it was hit by a rocket fired from Gaza overnight in Petah Tikva, Israel, on May 13.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
A fireball engulfs the Al-Walid building, which was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City early on May 13.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
A man checks damage following a rocket attack from Gaza in the central Israeli city of Petah Tikva on May 13.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Muslims perform the morning Eid al-Fitr prayer, marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in the Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem on May 13.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
A passenger rolls his luggage at the nearly deserted Ben Gurion airport in Lod, Israel, on May 13. Global airlines are canceling flights to Israel as clashes intensify between the country's military and Palestinian militants.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Israeli police patrol Lod during clashes on Wednesday, May 12.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Mourners surround the body of Lea Yom Tov, an Israeli woman killed by a rocket attack from Gaza, during her funeral in Rishon LeZion, Israel, on May 12.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Palestinians inspect a vehicle destroyed by an Israeli airstrike after the bodies of its occupants were retrieved in Gaza City on May 12.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
A man walks through debris after a rocket launched from Gaza struck an area in Holon, Israel, on May 12.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
An aerial view on May 12 shows the remains of a Gaza City tower building that was destroyed in Israeli airstrikes.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Torah scrolls, Jewish holy scriptures, are removed from a synagogue that was burned during confrontations between demonstrators and police in Lod, Israel, on May 12.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
Smoke billows from an Israeli airstrike on the Hanadi compound in Gaza City on Tuesday, May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
An Israeli firefighter extinguishes a burning bus in Holon, Israel, after it was hit by a rocket fired from Gaza on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
A stun grenade fired by Israeli forces explodes as Palestinians take part in an anti-Israel protest in Hebron, West Bank, on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
People sit on a staircase of a house in Ashkelon, Israel, as rockets are fired from Gaza on May 11.
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Photos: In pictures: Violence escalates after clashes in Jerusalem
A streak of light is seen from Ashkelon, Israel, as Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from Gaza on May 11.
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Rioting and violent clashes between Arab and Jewish citizens swept across several Israeli cities the week, including Lod, Bat Yam and Acre, leading Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to warn against "lynching" by either community.
Punctuating the escalating conflict is the fear that the violence could spill out past borders under Israel's control as Palestinians across the region will mark al-Nakba, or, "the catastrophe" on Saturday. The annual commemoration marks the day that more than700,000 Palestinians were driven from or left their homes during the 1948-1949 Arab-Israeli war.
In Lebanon, Nakba day demonstrations at the southern border with Israel on Saturday afternoon got tense after young people protesting in solidarity with Palestinians charged the border wall before the demonstration began. The Lebanese Army urged protesters to go back, warning that they were "going to shoot." The scenes were unfolding just a day after a Lebanese man died of shrapnel wounds he sustained from IDF-rockets launched at people protesting in solidarity with Palestinians at the same border, according to the Lebanese National News agency, NNA. Israel Defense Forces said in a Friday statement that tanks fired at protesters who crossed into Israeli territory, sabotaging the border fence and setting off fires.
And in Jordan over the past few days, protesters have also been marching against Israeli strikes in Gaza, with people protesting at the Jordan-Israel border for a second day in a row in solidarity with Palestinians. Demonstrators on Saturday called on the Jordanian monarch to open the borders so they can go "fight with their brothers."
CNN's Kara Fox, Richard Roth, Tamara Qiblawi and Celine Alkhaldi contributed to this report.
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