Escalating Middle East violence worst since 2014 war

People inspect the rubble of a damaged building which was hit by an Israeli air strike in Gaza City (Adel Hana/AP)

Rockets have streamed out of Gaza and Israel has pounded the territory with air strikes as the most severe outbreak of violence since a 2014 war took on many hallmarks of that devastating 50-day conflict.

Palls of grey smoke rose in Gaza, as Israeli air strikes levelled two apartment towers and hammered the militant group’s multiple security installations, destroying the central police compound.