The Israeli army bombarded Khan Yunis, the new epicenter of the war in Gaza, on Monday as the families of hostages urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a deal to secure their release.
Witnesses reported deadly strikes overnight in Khan Yunis, the largest city in southern Gaza, and fierce fighting.
The war has spurred fears of a wider escalation, and sirens were heard again overnight in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon, according to the Israeli military. There have been almost daily exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, and several areas of southern Lebanon were hit overnight.
Israeli attacks and street battles raged across the Gaza Strip on Sunday as Palestinian health officials said the death toll from strikes since war broke out in October had passed 25,000.
Gaza's health ministry said 178 Palestinians had been killed in the past 24 hours, one of the deadliest days of the war so far.
Fighting, however, has continued in the Jabalia refugee camp and other areas around Gaza City.
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