UN envoy warns of ‘a full scale war’ as death toll rises in Israel-Hamas violence

The UN has warned that the violence in Gaza could escalate into a “full-scale war” after Israel carried out heavy airstrikes on Gaza and Palestinian militants fired hundreds of rockets into Israel. Since Monday, at least 53 Palestinians — including 14 children — have been killed, say Palestinian officials, and at least six Israelis were also killed in the current standoff.

The Israeli airstrike has killed Gaza City commander Bassem Issa who is the highest-ranking military figure in Hamas to be killed since the 2014 war.