Death toll mounts as Israel-Gaza violence escalates

There have been more casualties in Gaza and Israel, as a heavy exchange of fire between Palestinian militants and the Israeli military continues.

Militants have fired more than 300 rockets towards Israel since Monday night, killing two Israelis.

Israel says it has hit 150 targets in Gaza in response. Health officials say 26 Palestinians have been killed.

The international community has urged both sides to end the escalation, which follows days of unrest in Jerusalem. 

The militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, said it was acting to defend Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque from Israeli "aggression and terrorism" after the site, which is holy to Muslims and Jews, saw clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians on Monday that left hundreds injured. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas had "crossed a red line" by firing rockets towards Jerusalem for the first time in years.