Israel said on Saturday that it was expanding a new ground offensive in Gaza, with troops closing in on the enclave after days of air strikes that have killed hundreds of Palestinians. Defence minister Israel Katz said the renewed fighting was forcing Hamas to soften its stance in talks being held in Qatar to secure the release of the remaining hostages being held in captivity in Gaza — part of an Israeli strategy of “negotiations under fire”.

Israel will allow some food into Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Sunday, hours after the military announced it had launched a new ground operation in the enclave. "Israel will allow a basic amount of food for the population to ensure that a hunger crisis does not develop in the Gaza Strip,