Israel has reportedly escalated airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, crushing families in the rubble of residential buildings, this as health officials say hundreds of Palestinians have been killed recently and medical facilities shut down because of bomb damage and lack of power.

The Hamas-run Interior Ministry say the massive air bombardment continued through the night as Israeli jets hit sites across Gaza. The soaring death toll from the bombardment is unprecedented in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

As fighting between Israel and Palestine continues South Africa's humanitarian group Gift of the Givers has been actively involved in providing humanitarian assistance. More from Dr Malik Abou Rageila....