Israel launches strikes in central and southern Gaza after widening offensive

An Israeli armoured personnel carrier moves near the Gaza Strip border, in southern Israel (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

Israel launched heavy strikes across central and southern Gaza overnight and into Wednesday after broadening its offensive against Hamas to more areas where the military had told Palestinians to seek shelter earlier in the war.

Residents reported heavy bombing in the built-up Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, in the southern city of Khan Younis and in the southern town of Rafah, areas where tens of thousands have sought refuge as much of northern Gaza was pounded to rubble.