In pictures: Mid-East erupts

Israel has launched military attacks on targets in the West Bank town of Ramallah and Gaza city, following the killing of two soldiers in Ramallah.

An Israeli soldier - in plain clothes - being grabbed by an unidentified Palestinian; a uniformed officer looks the other way

A Palestinian with blood on his hands greets the crowd surrounding the police station where the Israelis were killed

Two bodies were dragged out onto the streets; they were kicked and set fire to by the mob

Three hours later Israeli helicopter gunships appeared over Ramallah and fired rockets at the police station and other targets

There was panic on the ground as huge explosions rocked Ramallah

Smoke could be seen rising from the police station after the Israeli rocket attack

In the rubble of the destroyed police station, there were defiant protests after the rocket attacks

Even before the attacks, Palestinian emotions were at boiling point. Hundreds attended a funeral of a casualty in Gaza.

He was 12-year-old Sami Abu Jazar, shot in the head by Israeli soldiers who had come under attack by stone-throwing boys