Death tolls rise in surging Israel-Gaza fighting

SUMMARY

Rockets and missiles from Gaza killed four civilians in Israel, while Israeli strikes killed 19 Palestinians, more than half of them civilians, in surging cross-border fighting on Sunday, according to Gazan officials and the Israeli military. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the military to continue "massive strikes" against Gaza's ruling Hamas group and Islamic Jihad in the most serious border clashes since a spate of fighting in November. Israel's military said that more than 600 rockets and other projectiles - over 150 of them intercepted by its Iron Dome anti-missile system - had been fired at southern Israeli cities and villages since Friday. It said it attacked more than 260 targets belonging to Gaza militant groups. Gaza officials said Israeli air strikes and artillery fire killed 27 people, including 14 civilians, since Friday.

By ReutersMay 6, 2019 11:01:12 AM IST (Published)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem May 5, 2019. Abir Sultan/Pool via REUTERS

Rockets are fired from Gaza towards Israel, in Gaza May 5, 2019. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Trails are seen as rockets are launched from Gaza towards Israel as seen from the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border, Israel May 5, 2019, REUTERS/ Amir Cohen

A Palestinian man gestures as he inspects a building hit by an Israeli air strike, in the southern Gaza Strip May 5, 2019. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Palestinians gather around a building hit by an Israeli air strike, in the southern Gaza Strip May 5, 2019. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Smoke rises during an Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza Strip May 5, 2019. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Palestinians run inside a building that was hit by an Israeli air strike, in the southern Gaza Strip May 5, 2019. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Iron Dome anti-missile system fires interception missiles as rockets are launched from Gaza towards Israel as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel Ashkelon May 5, 2019. REUTERS/ Amir Cohen

A Palestinian boy looks at the remains of a building that was destroyed in Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City May 5, 2019. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Palestinians stand near the remains of a building that was destroyed in Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City May 5, 2019. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

A Palestinian man gestures as he stands at the remains of a building that was destroyed in Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City May 5, 2019. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

A view shows the remains of a building that was destroyed in Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City on May 5, 2019. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

A Palestinian man sits on debris outside a building that was damaged in Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City May 5, 2019. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

A Palestinian man looks on as he stands inside a building destroyed in Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City May 5, 2019. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Parts of debris strewn from a building destroyed by Israeli air strikes are seen in front of a house in Gaza City on May 5, 2019. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

A damaged house is seen after it was hit by a rocket fired from Gaza over the border to its Israeli side in Ashkelon Israel May 5, 2019, REUTERS/ Amir Cohen