ESCALATION

16 Killed in Israeli Strikes on Gaza

Netanyahu calls up 40,000 reservists.

Retaliation for the more than 85 rockets launched against Israel on Monday night led to the death of 16 Palestinians, including a 16-year-old boy. For the first time, Hamas claimed responsibility for some of the outgoing missiles and Israel responded by hitting targets in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has moved to expand ground operations and the Israeli government has approved a call-up of 40,000 reservists. A military official told Haaretz that leaders want to refrain from a large-scale offensive. Hamas has called on the Palestinian Authority to take greater action against Israel, stating “national unity sometimes requires paying a price.” Amid this escalation, President Obama wrote an op-ed in Haaretz stressing “peace is necessary, just, and possible” and reiterating support for a two-state solution.