Nineteen killed in Gaza, four in Israel in Sunday's escalation, officials say

Nineteen Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, and four people in Israel, Palestinian and Israeli authorities said.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said among the 19 Palestinians killed were a pregnant woman and a four-month-old baby amid the most serious escalation since a 2014 war. Since Friday, 27 Palestinians have died.

Palestinians carry wounded boy outside hospital in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, on Sunday night (AFP)

The Israeli military declined to comment, AFP said.

On the Israeli side, four people were killed as Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired barrages of rockets and at least one anti-tank missile from the enclave, Israeli authorities said.

Three of the dead were identified as Israeli citizens, with the nationality of the fourth not revealed.

Rocket fire and Israeli strikes continued into Sunday evening.