Israel has said it is tightening the “stranglehold” around Hamas in Gaza City. Smoke billowed above the densely-populated coastal enclave as the Palestinian death toll crossed 10,500.

Military analysts warned of weeks of gruelling house-to-house fighting ahead in Gaza, with around 30 Israeli soldiers already killed in the offensive, AFP reports.

The operation is hugely complicated for Israel because of the hostages, including very young children and frail elderly people, who are believed to be held inside a vast tunnel network.