The situation in Gaza is at breaking point, following the UN yesterday making a stark warning that the violence may turn into a “full-scale war”.

Israel has fired artillery and mounted more airstrikes against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip amid constant rocket fire deep into Israel’s commercial centre.

As hostilities entered their fifth day, with no sign of slowing down, the Israeli military said in a statement shortly after midnight that air and ground forces were attacking the Hamas-run enclave. Rocket barrages from Gaza swiftly followed.

Although the statement gave no further details, Israeli military affairs correspondents who are briefed regularly by the armed forces said it was not a ground invasion, and that troops were firing artillery from Israel’s side of the border.

Residents within the north of Gaza said they had seen no sign of Israeli ground forces inside the enclave but reported heavy artillery fire and dozens of air strikes.

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Militants in Gaza have fired more than 1,000 rockets into Israel, with airlines either suspending or diverting flights over fears of planes being shot down.

103 Palestinians and seven Israelis have been killed as a result of the violence, as Israel moves troops towards the Gaza border in preparation for quote “all eventualities and an escalation”.

It comes as Israel’s Defense Minister says the country has “many, many more targets” and no time limit when it comes to military operations.

The violence in Gaza erupted on Monday after Israeli air strikes killed several senior Hamas commanders and destroyed three multi-story buildings…

As the situation worsens in Gaza, tensions are also spreading throughout several Israeli cities, with Arab and Jewish citizens clashing and rioting on the streets.

Israel’s Defense Minister said “I say explicitly: we will continue to defend and continue to attack until the fire is stopped and we will ensure long-term silence.”

This comes as Palestinians plead with the United Nations to live up to its responsibility and maintain international peace and security.