2 Killed as Violence Spreads to West Bank

The West Bank erupted in violence last night after one of the biggest protests in years ended in clashes between Israeli forces and people marching in solidarity with Gaza. At least two Palestinians were killed and 200 wounded as Israeli border forces used riot control measures and live ammunition against thousands of demonstrators, reports the BBC. The Palestinian Authority has called for a "day of rage" over Israel's Gaza offensive and more clashes are expected today.

• Yesterday's demonstration took place after at least 15 people were killed and up to 200 injured when an Israeli strike hit a United Nations school sheltering people fleeing Israeli bombing. The Israeli military says it gave people the chance to leave before shelling began, but the UN denies that, saying it tried and failed to negotiate a window of time during which people could safely leave, the Guardian reports.

• John Kerry has come up with a two-stage plan to end the fighting in Gaza, an official involved in negotiations tells the New York Times. The first step would involve a weeklong truce beginning on Sunday, during which Israeli, Palestinian, and international negotiators would discuss issues affecting Gaza. But negotiations are at a delicate stage, the official says, and issues like an Israeli demand to keep its troops in Gaza during the truce are still being discussed.
• Yesterday was one of the bloodiest days of the 18-day-old conflict, with 115 Palestinians dead bringing the total to more than 800, the AP reports. Some 34 Israelis, including 32 soldiers, have been killed. Early today, Israel hit at least 30 sites in Gaza, killing a leader of the Islamic Jihad group and two of his sons, and ground troops clashed with Hamas militants.

(More Israel and Palestinians stories.)