Israel's defence minister Katz: 'Gaza is burning'

The Israeli military intensified strikes on Gaza City overnight, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday, adding the assault aims to secure the release of hostages and defeat Palestinian militant organization Hamas.

"Gaza is burning," Katz wrote on Telegram, vowing Israel would not relent or back down "until the mission is completed."

The US news site Axios cited Israeli officials as saying the operation marked the start of a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip's largest city.

Israeli warplanes carried out near-continuous strikes on Gaza City overnight, accompanied by artillery fire, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

Palestinian media said tanks later entered the city, where hundreds of thousands of people are believed to remain. The Israeli military has not confirmed this.