ISRAEL LAUNCHES FRESH GAZA BLITZ

Army instensifies attacks as experts warn of famine

- JENNIFER HYLAND

THE Israeli government said it has launched a new military operation in the Gaza Strip to increase the pressure on Hamas to release the remaining hostages.

Defence minister Israel Katz said Operation Gideon Chariots is under way and is being led with "great force" by Israel's army.

The announcement comes after days of intensive strikes across Gaza that killed hundreds of people, according to its health ministry.

Last night, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said that Israel's strikes, continued blockade of aid into Gaza and the forced relocation of people was "tantamount to ethnic cleansing." Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu vowed earlier in the week to escalate pressure on Hamas.

The move comes as US president Donald Trump ended his trip to the region without a visit to Israel.