The leader of Hamas has said his group has reached an agreement with the rival Fatah party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after Egyptian-brokered talks about the terms of control of the Gaza Strip.

Israeli aircraft have battered the headquarters of the Gaza Strip bank set up by Hamas chiefs to sidestep international sanctions.

Warplanes pressing one of Israel’s deadliest assaults ever on Palestinian militants dropped bombs and missiles on a top security installation, a mosque, a TV station and dozens of other targets across the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip today.

Dozens of Palestinian gunmen stormed Gaza’s government compound today, firing in all directions and battling with police.