The United Nations is worried the latest outbreak of violence in the Middle East could see Israel and Palestine go into 'full-scale war'.
Violence broke out after weeks of tensions over the planned forced evictions of six Palestinian families in an East Jerusalem neighbourhood.
Pressure was already high when Israel restricted gatherings at the Al-Aqsa compound to just 10,000 people during Ramadan, which was a move that was even criticised by moderate Israelis.
Advert
Protests got bloody and Israeli police and military ended up storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque, a sacred Muslim site, and fired rubber bullets at worshippers.
This escalated to missile strikes by Hamas and airstrikes into Gaza by Israel.
So far, 65 Palestinians have been killed, including 16 children and there has been widespread destruction within the Gaza Strip.
Advert
More than 360 people have been wounded, including 86 children and 39 women. Six Israelis, including one child, have died and around 100 have been injured.
According to Al-Jazeera, there has also been an escalation in attacks on Arab people living in Israel.
Video footage has captured the moment the largest residential building, a 13-storey apartment block, was destroyed in Gaza in an Israeli airstrike. Thankfully, residents of the Hanadi tower were evacuated ahead of the strikes and no casualties have been reported.
But this will still leave dozens of people displaced in the already tiny area of Gaza and these people will be forced to find somewhere else to live.
Advert
It's the third residential building destroyed in the strikes.
In addition to that, people on the ground say it's not just homes that are crumbling under the might of the Israeli attack system, but also essential services, which will cripple people's livelihoods.
Salameh Marouf, the head of the Gaza-based government information office, told Al-Jazeera:"The Israeli occupation carried out more than 56 air strikes against the Gaza Strip in which more than 120 missiles were used against civilian targets,' adding that Israel 'intentionally targeted service facilities, such as near the water desalination facility to the north of Gaza, which put it out of service."
Advert
Experts believe this is the most intense fighting between Israel and Palestine since the last outbreak of war in 2014. Officials at the United Nations are concerned the current fighting will soon reach that level.
Tor Wennesland, UN Special Envoy to the Middle East Peace Process, wrote on Twitter: "Stop the fire immediately. We're escalating towards a full scale war. Leaders on all sides have to take the responsibility of deescalation.
"The cost of war in Gaza is devastating & is being paid by ordinary people. UN is working w/ all sides to restore calm. Stop the violence now."
Amnesty International's Middle East Deputy Director of the human rights charity, Saleh Higazi, added: "Israel must not be allowed to continue its rampage against Palestinians who are simply defending their right to exist and protesting against their forced displacement."
Advert
There doesn't appear to be an immediate end in sight in the fighting.
Featured Image Credit: PA