Israel-Gaza: Fears of war as violence escalates

The deadly exchange of fire between Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli military has escalated significantly, with the UN fearing a "full-scale war".

More than 1,000 rockets have now been fired by Palestinian militants over 38 hours, Israel said, most at Tel Aviv.

Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes, destroying two tower blocks in Gaza on Tuesday and Wednesday.

At least 43 Palestinians and six Israelis have been killed since Monday.

That includes 13 Palestinian children caught up in the conflict.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was "gravely concerned" by the ongoing violence.

The latest fatality was an Israeli citizen, who was killed when an anti-tank guided missile, fired from the northern Gaza Strip, struck a jeep on the border. Three other people were injured.

The Israeli fatalities also reportedly include a 52-year-old father and his 16-year-old daughter who died in the city of Lod near Tel Aviv when a rocket hit their car.

In Gaza, the streets are full of rubble where buildings have collapsed and cars are crushed or burned from Israeli air strikes.

Israeli Arabs have also staged violent protests in a number of Israeli towns. Lod near Tel Aviv has been put under a state of emergency.