Middle East

On the sixth day of fighting between Israel and Palestinians, an Israeli air strike destroyed a Gaza high-rise that housed the offices of the Associated Press and Al Jazeera.

A dozen journalists and freelancers were evacuated from the AP offices in the 12-story building before it crumbled to the ground. AP said the military has long known the building housed journalists.

President Biden has offered few public comments on escalating violence between Israel and Hamas. The White House says it is focused on diplomacy behind the scenes.

Israel toppled buildings in Gaza with aerial and artillery fire as Hamas fighters in Gaza continued to fire rockets at Israeli targets.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have been holding talks in the Middle East. Both sides say there are many contentious points to address.

NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with Mkhaimar Abusada, political science professor at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, and Israeli political analyst Akiva Eldar, about paths to a ceasefire in Israel.

Some of the most intense attacks hit the Gaza Strip on Thursday night. But the clashes also brought large protests in the occupied West Bank — where at least 10 people reportedly died.

Israel added artillery to its assault on the Gaza Strip as Palestinian casualties increased and some rocket fire from militants continued into Israel.

"This kind of escalation intensifies the hate, helps the radicals," an analyst who lives in Gaza says as Israel and Hamas launch attacks at each other.

"This is an embarrassing time for Gulf countries," says political scientist Bessma Momani. "Ultimately, they gave Israel a normalization deal, but didn't really extract anything for the Palestinians."

Israel has called up more troops and launched its heaviest assault yet along the Gaza border. Seven people in Israel have been killed. Losses are much higher on the Palestinian side.

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Omar Shaban, founder of a Gaza-based think tank, and Palestinian lawyer Diana Buttu, about how this cycle of Palestinian-Israeli violence plays out in their neighborhoods.