The 24-hour death toll was the worst in a week and added to the massive fatalities from the nearly two-year war that has shattered the enclave housing more than 2 million Palestinians.

An airstrike on Gaza City killed at least 12 people as the conflict entered a new phase with an Israeli offensive to rid the city of Hamas and free hostages.

Israel’s military yesterday pounded Gaza City prior to a planned takeover, with another 123 people killed in the past day, the Gaza health ministry said, while militant group Hamas held further talks with Egyptian mediators.