An elderly Palestinian, Tawfik Abu Breika, said his residential block in Khan Younis was hit without warning by an Israeli air strike that brought down several buildings and caused casualties, Reuters reports.

“The world’s conscience is dead, no humanity or any kind of morals,” Breika told Reuters as neighbours sifted through rubble. “This is the third month that we are facing death and destruction.”

The Wall Street Journal and ABC reported that the Israeli military began pumping seawater into Hamas’ tunnel network, where the group is believed to be hiding fighters and munitions and basing hit-and-run street attacks on Israeli troops.

US President Joe Biden said he had heard unconfirmed reports there were no hostages in the tunnels. Some hostages freed during a ceasefire reported they had been held in tunnels. The Israeli military said it was looking into the reports.