Intense overnight bombing raids across Gaza

By Nathan Morley

The Israeli military says it has hit 150 underground targets in Gaza during intense overnight bombing.

The Israelis say they have launched an ‘expanded ground operation’ which includes tanks. It also confirmed there had been fighting with the armed wing of Hamas.

International media cited a local radio network as reporting huge explosions in four areas in the north with callers saying they were at a scale and intensity that people have ‘never seen before’. Almost all communication with Gaza is now impossible as mobile and online services have been severed.

On Friday, the UN's top humanitarian official Martin Griffiths said aid was "barely trickling" into Gaza, after days of warnings over rapidly dwindling fuel supplies. However, Israel disputes the degree of the fuel crisis - and has suggested Hamas is stockpiling essential reserves.

Meanwhile, the UN General Assembly has called for an immediate humanitarian truce, with 120 states voting for a resolution put forward by Jordan.

More than 1,400 people were killed in the initial attacks on Israel by Hamas on 7 October, and Israel says more than 220 are still being held hostage in Gaza.

Hamas says 7,000 people have been killed since Israeli air strikes on Gaza began.