At least 24 Palestinians were killed overnight as Israel launched a ground offensive in Gaza, with the initial aim of destroying the underground tunnels into the heavily populated area.
Thousands of Palestinians are fleeing northern Gaza after Israel warned that it planned to step up its campaign on the area in an attempt to stop the rockets being launched over the border into Israel.
Israeli forces have targeted 780 “Hamas targets” within Gaza since the beginning of Operation Defensive Edge, which has left at least 100 Palestinians dead and 675 people injured.
More than 20 people have been killed in the latest round Israeli air strikes on Gaza, as Israel’s “Operation Protective Edge” bombing campaign entered its third day.
Israel continued its air strikes on Gaza overnight as Hamas militants fired longer range rockets into Israel, targeting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.