Over to the Middle East, the United Nations has urged all sides in the Gaza Strip to exercise maximum restraint. This came after a botched Israeli ground invasion prompted the territory's ruling authority to fire scores of rockets into southern Israel. Israeli jets responded by flattening targets throughout the Strip, including a Hamas-run TV station. The flare-up threatens to sink months of peace negotiations brokered by Egypt, and drag the two sides into a full-blown war. CGTN's Stephanie Freid reports from the Israel-Gaza boundary barrier.

Hundreds of rockets fired at Israeli cities, direct hits on homes and in urban centers, a bus decimated by an anti-tank missile. Israel's response: airstrikes on Hamas targets, including the Gaza Strip's Hamas-run television station. Both sides warning of dire consequences if the other doesn't back down.

JONATHAN CONRICUS ISRAEL MILITARY SPOKESMAN "We hold Hamas accountable for any aggression against Israeli civilians and Hamas, by its actions, is bringing destruction to the Gaza Strip and its environment."

ISMAIL HANIYEHHAMAS CHIEF "This is an open battle between us and the Zionist enemy. Only he is responsible for this crime and its ramifications."

The violent surge comes after an Israeli Special Forces raid into the Gaza Strip overnight Sunday went awry. Seven Hamas members and one Israeli officer were killed during the operation. As rockets rained down on southern Israel Monday night, Israel's military mobilized tanks.

STEPHANIE FREIDGAZA-ISRAEL BOUNDARY "What you're seeing here is a gas line - firefighters can't put it out and this is what's going to make the difference in the conflict - things that are hit versus people."

Casualties on Israel's side or longer range rocket fire into major cities could prompt expanded Israel's military moves.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to convene his security cabinet late Tuesday to decide the Israeli government's next move. STEPHANIE FREID, CGTN, ON THE GAZA-ISRAEL BORDER.