Death, destruction in Gaza as Israel defies truce call

At least one Palestinian was killed and several others were injured on Thursday.

Israeli fighter jets continued to pound the Gaza Strip as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defied the United States' call to seek a de-escalation and a path to a ceasefire, reports Al Jazeera.

At least 227 Palestinians have been killed in 11 days of violence. The dead include 64 children and 38 women.

On the Israeli side, 12 people have been killed.

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday discussed the events in Gaza with Netanyahu, telling the caretaker leader that he expected "a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire".

But shortly after Biden's phone call, Netanyahu said he was "determined" to continue bombarding Gaza until Israel's "aim is met".

Diplomatic efforts for a truce between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers remain stalled, meanwhile, with the US continuing to block United Nations Security Council action on the issue.

One Palestinian killed in Gaza

At least one Palestinian was killed and 13 others were wounded in the latest Israeli air attacks on Gaza, the Palestinian Wafaa news agency reported.

A Wafa correspondent in Gaza said Israeli fighters jets carried out a minimum of 30 air raids that targeted roads and homes in Gaza City, Jabalia and Khan Younis.

The raids caused "significant destruction" to the Saftawi highway, which links Gaza City to northern areas of the enclave, and damaged power, water and sanitation networks, the agency reported.

Palestinian groups 'fire 80 rockets overnight'

Palestinian groups in Gaza fired 80 rockets and mortar shells towards southern Israel between 7pm on Wednesday and 7am on Thursday, the Times of Israel reported, citing the Israeli military.

The Israeli air defence system intercepted a majority of the rockets and there were no reports of injuries, according to the website.

The last rocket was launched at 1am local time, it added.