At least 55 dead as Israel steps up Gaza strikes: Hamas

The Hamas government said on Sunday that at least 55 people were killed in overnight raids on the Gaza Strip, after Israel announced it was stepping up strikes.

"More than 55 martyrs," the government press office said in a statement on the latest night of bombing in response to the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7.

It added that more than 30 homes had been destroyed in the hours after an Israeli military spokesman said that raids would be increased.

Meanwhile, Israel said on Sunday it had killed "terror operatives" from Hamas and Islamic Jihad in an air strike on a mosque in the West Bank's Jenin.

The strike hit the Al-Ansar mosque, which the Israeli military said "was used by the terrorists as a command centre to plan the attacks and as a base for their execution".

People inspect the damage after an Israeli strike hit a compound beneath a mosque in Jenin refugee camp. Reuters

The Israeli military said those targeted had already carried out "several terror attacks over the last months, and were organising an additional imminent terror attack".

It said they were "neutralised", without giving details on the number killed in the strike or their identities.

Israel has launched heavy bombardment of the Gaza Strip in retaliation, killing more than 4,300 people, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Agencies