At least 122 Palestinians, including 31 children, have been killed and more than 900 wounded since hostilities flared up on Monday.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media that hundreds of Palestinian families have taken shelter in United Nations-run schools in northern Gaza to escape Israeli artillery fire, with residents reporting that that the Strip had experienced its “most violent” night.

Despite international calls for an immediate halt of all hostilities, including from United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged the offensive will continue “as needed to restore calm in the state of Israel”.