The Palestinian death toll passed 400 yesterday as over 60 people were killed in Gaza City as Israel extended its ground offensive in its war against Hamas, sparking the most deadly day of fighting in the besieged territory.

Israel stepped up its attacks against the Islamic militants, targeting tunnel networks on the border and shelling the al-Shuja’iya neighbourhood in the east of Gaza City. The air and tank strikes, as well as gunfire, left many civilians, including children, dead or wounded.

Hamas fighters engaged Israeli troops with rocket propelled grenades and gunfire. Journalists reported seeing dead and wounded in the streets, some of whom could not be treated because of the intensity of the fighting. Israel agreed to a ceasefire in the afternoon to let medics treat the injured.