The worst exchange of strikes between Israel and the Gaza Strip so far this year entered its second day today, as Israeli aircraft carried out raids that have so far killed 14 militants according to a Palestinian count, and militants responded with nearly 100 rockets.

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed the commander of the militant group behind the abduction of Gilad Schalit, an Israeli soldier who was held captive for more than five years and freed in a prisoner swap for more than 1,000 Palestinians.

Syrian government troops heavily shelled rebellious districts in the resistance stronghold of Homs today, killing at least 16 people and compounding fears of a new round of bloody urban combat in a country careening toward all-out civil war.

The leaders of Fatah and Hamas yesterday agreed that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas could head an interim "unity" cabinet to pave the way for fresh future elections in Gaza and the West Bank.

Israeli police have arrested two Hamas MPs who had been hiding in a Red Cross compound in Jerusalem.

Meshaal's departure may affect movement's shift to a more moderate stance towards Israel

As prime minister of Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh is one of the world's most controversial politicians. He talks to Evgeny Lebedev about the Arab Spring, suicide bombing, the Israeli blockade - and the elusive prospect of peace.

Palestinians plan diplomatic blitz to increase pressure on Israel over peace talks

As Fatah and Hamas bury some of their differences, Tel Aviv says the move is a step back towards terror

Egypt condemns latest attacks on Palestinians in Gaza as tensions rise across the Middle East

Palestinian militants have launched three more rockets into Israel but there were no casualties, officials say.

Israel is to release a second batch of Palestinian prisoners this month as part of an exchange deal for the recently freed Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, but may largely exclude political prisoners from the swap.

Leaders of rival Palestinian parties yesterday claimed they had narrowed the gaps between them in talks aimed at salvaging a reconciliation deal to end a four-year rift.

The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's announcement yesterday that he will meet the Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, in Cairo next week follows yet another round of speculation that the four-year-old schism between the factions is nearing its end.