Israel launches airstrikes on Gaza as conflict heightens

KARAH RUCKER: RELATIONS BETWEEN ISRAELI  FORCES AND PALESTINIAN MILITANTS ARE BOILING OVER – AS THE TWO SIDES TRADE BLOWS.

THE LATEST DEADLY CONFLICT COMES AS ISRAEL LAUNCHED AIRSTRIKES TODAY TARGETING WEAPONS MANUFACTURING AND STORAGE SITES IN GAZA.

ACCORDING TO ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES – FIGHTER JETS STRUCK A COMPOUND BELONGING TO TERRORISTS IN THE NORTHERN GAZA STRIP USED FOR NAVAL WEAPONS STORAGE.

THE AIR RAIDS CAME AFTER MILITANTS FIRED SEVERAL  ROCKETS FROM GAZA TOWARD ISRAELI TERRITORY – FIVE OF WHICH WERE INTERCEPTED.

TODAY’S CONFLICT FOLLOWED AN ISRAELI MILITARY RAID WEDNESDAY – WHEN THE IDF WENT INTO THE WEST BANK TO TAKE DOWN THREE REPORTED TERRORISTS —

THOUGH THE RAID DID RESULT IN THE KILLING OF THE THREE SUSPECTS, ANOTHER 8 PALESTINIANS WERE KILLED AND MORE THAN 100 OTHERS INJURED IN THE GUN BATTLE. 

A UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST IS URGING ALL SIDES TO REFRAIN FROM STEPS THAT COULD FURTHER INFLAME AN ALREADY VOLATILE SITUATION.