UN peace envoy warns escalation on Gaza is “very dangerous”

UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland reported he was “deeply concerned”, warning that the escalation was “very dangerous”.

The strikes come four days after Israel locked its two border crossings with Gaza and limited the movement of Israeli civilians living near the frontier, citing security concerns.

The measures followed the detention in the occupied West Bank of two senior members of Islamic Jihad, including Bassem al-Saadi, who Israel accuses of orchestrating recent attacks.

Israel has launched raids inside the West Bank since mid-March in response to deadly attacks on Israeli citizens.

Islamic Jihad did not launch rockets after Saadi’s arrest, but Israel has urged through the week that the group was committed to seeking revenge.