Israeli jets and Palestinian militants traded fresh airstrikes and rocket fire early on Wednesday as the UN’s Middle East envoy called for a cessation of hostilities, warning: “We’re escalating towards a full-scale war.”

The death toll since unrest broke out early on Tuesday rose to 40 – 35 in Gaza and five in Israel – as Israel carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Gaza and Palestinian militant groups fired multiple rocket barrages at Tel Aviv, Beersheba, and other central Israeli cities.

Earlier, Defence Minister Benny Gantz warned “this is just the beginning” of Israel’s strikes. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh vowed in turn that “if Israel wants to escalate, we are ready for it”.