Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least 21 people late Tuesday and early Wednesday. More than half of those killed were women and children, health authorities said. Desperation is mounting in the Palestinian territory of more than 2 million,

Fifteen deaths have been reported over the past day, the Hamas-run ministry says, as the UN warns of "soaring" malnutrition.

Israeli ground troops for the first time have pushed into areas of a central Gaza city where several aid groups are based.

Israel Defense Forces pushed into a central Gaza city on Monday for the first time since the war with Hamas began.

The area is packed with Palestinians who left their homes during 21 months of war in Gaza, hundreds of whom fled west or south after Israel issued an evacuation order on Sunday. Israeli tanks pushed into the southern and eastern districts of the Gazan city of Deir al-Balah on Monday,