The Israeli military said on Wednesday that it would abide by a ceasefire accord in Gaza, as health officials in the enclave said air strikes had killed 104 people, with both Israel and Hamas trading blame for violations of the deal.
The Israeli military said in a statement that it would continue to uphold the ceasefire agreement and would respond firmly to "any violation".
The Gaza health ministry said that 46 children and 20 women were among the 104 people killed in Israeli air strikes since Tuesday. Reuters couldn't immediately verify the numbers, but a video showed several bodies of women and children inside a hospital during funeral processions.
Despite the bombardments, US President Donald Trump said the US-backed ceasefire was not at risk.
"As I understand it, they took out an Israeli soldier," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. "So the Israelis hit back and they should hit back. When that happens, they should hit back," he added.
"Nothing is going to jeopardise" the ceasefire, Trump said.
Qatar's Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani said on Wednesday that the attack on the Israeli soldier and the subsequent Israeli air strikes had been "very disappointing and frustrating for us".
Qatar, along with Egypt and the US, has been leading efforts to broker peace in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the United Nations called the deaths in Israel's new military strikes on Gaza "appalling", as it urged all sides not to let peace "slip from our grasp".
UN rights chief Volker Turk said the attacks had reportedly hit schools, homes and tents for internally displaced people within the Palestinian territory.
"Reports that over 100 Palestinians were killed overnight in a wave of Israeli airstrikes mainly on residential buildings, IDP tents and schools across the Gaza Strip, following the death of an Israeli soldier, are appalling," he said in a statement.
"The laws of war are very clear on the paramount importance of protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure."
Turk said Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law, and would be accountable for any violations. - Agencies
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