Israel: We will intensify our strikes on Gaza City

ISRAEL yesterday declared Gaza's largest city a dangerous combat zone and said it was in the “initial stages” of a planned offensive that has drawn international condemnation.

- WAFAA SHURAFA, SAM METZ AND JULIA FRANKEL, Associated Press

Israel's military said it suspended midday pauses to fighting, which had allowed food and aid supplies to enter from 10am to 8pm, while also reporting it had recovered the bodies of two hostages and vowed its military offensive would return more.

The shift comes weeks after Israel first announced plans to widen its offensive in Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering and enduring famine.

The resumption of around-the-clock fighting is the latest escalation after Israel reported strikes in some of the city’s key neighbourhoods and called up tens of thousands of reservists.

"We will intensify our strikes until we bring back all the kidnapped hostages and dismantle Hamas," Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said.