'Cataclysmic' situation in Gaza City, UN official says, as Israeli tanks advance

A constant of stream of Palestinians flee southwards as Israeli tanks reportedly push further into Gaza's biggest urban centre.

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Olga Cherevko, a spokeswoman for the UN's humanitarian office, said she had seen a constant stream of Palestinians heading south during a recent visit to the city, but that hundreds of thousands remained.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that overwhelmed hospitals were on the brink of collapse because it was being prevented from delivering lifesaving supplies.

The Israeli military said its forces were "dismantling terror infrastructure and eliminating terrorists" in Gaza City.

It has said its objectives are to free the hostages still held by Hamas and defeat up to 3,000 fighters in what it has described as the group's "main stronghold".