Airstrikes Escalate Between Israel And Gaza

Published July 9, 2014 at 1:06 PM EDT

Relatives and friends of the al-Kaware family mourn over one of the seven members of the family during their funeral in Khan Yunis, in the Gaza Strip, July 9, 2014. The father, a member of the Fatah movement, and his six young sons were killed yesterday in an Israeli air strike that targeted their home. (Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images)

The escalation of violence between the Israeli military and Hamas militants in Gaza has increased in the past few days.

Almost 50 people, including several children, have been killed in the continuing airstrikes against the Palestinian enclave, and Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vows to widen attacks.

Both sides have exchanged air fire in the aftermath of the deaths of three kidnapped Israeli teenagers and the subsequent killing of a Palestinian teen. Rockets were fired from Gaza towards Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and the Israeli military retaliated with its own airstrikes Tuesday. There have been no reported Israeli deaths from rocket attacks.

NPR’s Ari Shapiro joins Here & Now’s Robin Young on his trip back from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, to discuss what he saw and heard there.

Guest

Ari Shapiro, NPR international correspondent. He tweets @AriShapiro.