Israeli Airstrikes Rock Gaza After Hamas Rockets Hit Israel (in Photos)

A week of intense violence in the Gaza Strip saw Israeli’s air force bombard over 150 targets in Gaza in response to Hamas rocket fire. Though the airstrikes and rockets appeared to cease Thursday night following Egyptian-mediated negotiations, protests along the Gaza border on Friday evening turned deadly when Israeli forces shot two Palestinians, one of whom was a paramedic.

As the Washington Post reports, Israel’s military said Hamas fired over 180 rocket and mortar rounds from Gaza into Israel this week; at least 11 people were injured. In response, Israel unleashed punishing airstrikes on Gaza targets, killing three Palestinians, including a pregnant mother and her young child.

This current round of violence continues four months of bloodshed in Gaza: Since March, Israeli forces have killed over 160 Palestinians. Most of those killed have been part of protests against the border, including “The Great March of Return,” a movement in support of Palestinian refugees trying to return to their homes in what is now Israel.