Palestinians are uniformly horrified at the new bloodshed, which has brought the overall death toll in the territory to more than 50,000, according to the Gazan health ministry. Many Palestinians had only just returned to their homes after months of displacement and now have been forced to flee once more.

As Israel’s forces push back into Gaza after a two-month ceasefire with Hamas, its political and military leaders are considering plans for a fresh ground campaign.

More than 200 Palestinians were killed in overnight Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-ruled enclave's Ministry of Health said, as Hamas accused Israel of violating a fragile ceasefire deal.