Israel was keeping up its intense bombing campaign in the enclave, which has exacted a heavy price on civilians struggling to find safe places to shelter.

Israeli strikes have killed at least 17 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, mostly women and children, and destroyed bulldozers and other heavy equipment that had been supplied by mediators to clear rubble.

At least 10 people have been killed in an Israeli attack that sparked a fire at a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza City, including one child who was burned to death in the blaze.