Middle East

Israel escalates its military campaign against Hamas, with health officials in Gaza saying at least 100 Palestinians have been killed in airstrikes and tank shellings.

It may be far removed from the fury of Gaza, but even in Jerusalem a clawing sense of foreboding is never far away, writes Inigo Gilmore. And there is one tell-tale sign: the streets are almost empty.

Israel has made “superhuman efforts” to minimise suffering in the Gaza Strip, says the former Israeli ambassador to the US, while Hamas is “a vicious, medieval, racist, genocidal organisation”.

The attack on Gaza’s main hospital was the work of Hamas, says Daniel Taub, the UK’s Israeli ambassador. And he says his country wants to see nobody die – “least of all children”.

Ten Palestinians – mostly children – are killed when a missile explodes in a park at the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City.

Something has suddenly snapped as Gaza’s violence spreads to the West Bank. A madness born of fury has taken hold. Raw hatred on both sides is beginning to explode. Jonathan Miller reports.

As the war in the Gaza strip continues, some fear that a third intifada – a Palestinian uprising against the Israelis – may be brewing.

In the West Bank, five Palestinians die in clashes with Israeli forces, while Gaza sees more attacks by Israeli forces and by Hamas. Meanwhile, Israel’s cabinet rejects a temporary ceasefire.

In a speech on the 20th anniversary of his becoming Labour leader, Tony Blair devotes half a minute to the situation in Gaza. We asked if London is the place for the Middle East quartet envoy to be?

Barack Obama urges both Israel and Palestine to show restraint. But how is America trying to achieve peace in the increasingly volatile Middle East? We answer some key questions.

Mohammad Abu Khdair’s family say he was killed in revenge for the murders of three young Israelis in June, but no motive has yet been officially established. Lindsey Hilsum reports from Jerusalem.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is the self-styled leader of a new global jihad. On Tuesday he urged followers to “embrace this change” in a recording posted online. So what do we think we know about him?

As a campaign demands Tony Blair be removed from his role as Middle East envoy, Jon Snow asks Respect MP George Galloway and Blair’s former special adviser John McTernan – should he stay or go?

They have been called state sponsors of terrorism – but now the United States is considering working together with Iran, as both countries try to stop Iraq disintegrating into chaos.