Israel troops mobilise along Gaza frontier as violence continues

The Israeli military said air and ground troops struck Gaza early on Friday in what appeared to be the heaviest attacks yet

Smoke rises following Israeli missile strikes on Gaza City. Picture: Khalil Hamra/AP

Israel is placing troops along the Gaza frontier and calling up 9,000 reservists ahead of a possible ground invasion of the Hamas-ruled territory.

It comes as the two bitter enemies plunged closer to all-out war while Egyptian mediators who rushed to Israel for cease-fire efforts saw no signs of progress.