Israel vows to fight on in Gaza despite rising international pressure

Nearly 1.9 million Palestinians have been driven from their homes, with most seeking refuge in the south, even as Israel has continued to strike what it says are militant targets in all parts of the territory, often killing women and children.

Israeli strikes have hit buildings in Rafah (Hatem Ali/AP)

Israel has vowed to keep fighting in Gaza until it crushes Hamas after one of the deadliest single battles of the war for its soldiers, even as it faces mounting international calls for a ceasefire and unease on the part of its closest ally, the US.

The ambush, which killed at least nine soldiers, was a fresh reminder that Hamas is still able to fight after six weeks of devastating warfare aimed at crushing its military capabilities.