Pentagon reaffirms 'ironclad' US support for Israel, urges de-escalation, as UK, France and Germany condemn rocket barrages against southern cities

Homes and cars in Ashkelon, Sderot, Kibbutz Nir Am hit with shrapnel, one in Netivot damaged by Iron Dome interceptor; Islamic Jihad says no deal until assassinations end

Israel says it is assessing deal after Egyptian media says fighting to end Wednesday evening, but resumption of rocket fire and IDF airstrikes raise doubts

Defense Ministry activates 'Gust of Wind' plan, paying for those in greatest danger of rocket fire to be bused to other areas of country, put up in hotels

42% of respondents say previous government handled conflict with Palestinian enclave better than current coalition, including a fifth of Likud voters; 43% back a military operation

Angry response comes after far-right Otzma Yehudit announces boycott of Knesset votes to protest ‘feeble’ response to Gaza rockets; its leader Ben Gvir challenges PM to fire him

Editor David Horovitz and military correspondent Emanuel Fabian reconstruct the sequence of events that led to escalating violence on Israel's borders over the holiday weekend

Military says looking into what set off alert systems early Wednesday morning, following rocket attacks the previous night and clashes at Al-Aqsa Mosque

TV reports say Netanyahu likely to convene high-level ministerial forum in coming days, as fresh violence erupts Wednesday night

1 projectile lands in open area in Israeli territory near border, another falls inside Strip, after a volley the day before and clashes at Temple Mount