The Palestinian health ministry in Gaza reported that at least 232 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes.

Al Jazeera reports that Israeli tanks are shelling the eastern areas of the town of Abasan in Khan Yunis.

The airstrikes focused on densely populated areas where people were taking shelter.

Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon acknowledged that the Israeli air force had violated the ceasefire by carrying out a series of attacks on Hamas targets in Gaza, adding that Israel would not stop until all of its hostages were returned home.

An unnamed Israeli military official told Reuters that the Israeli offensive will continue for as long as necessary and will not be limited to air strikes alone, which suggests a possible return of Israeli ground forces to the Gaza Strip.