Israel launched a large-scale ground offensive in the Gaza Strip yesterday, escalating a 10-day military operation to try to destroy Hamas’ weapons arsenal, rocket-firing abilities, and tunnels under the Palestinian territory’s border with Israel.

Israeli war planes intensified attacks across the Gaza Strip today, targeting senior Hamas leaders and bombing a coastal area where four Palestinian boys were killed.

Hundreds of Palestinian families, their children crying, fled as Israel intensified airstrikes on Hamas targets, including homes of the movement’s leaders, following failed Egyptian ceasefire efforts.