US President Joe Biden has called the slaughter of hundreds of Israelis by Hamas an “act of sheer evil”.
In an address at the White House on Tuesday, Mr Biden said at least 14 Americans have been killed in the violence in Israel which erupted at the weekend.
It came after explosions were heard in the Israeli city of Ashkelon following a warning to residents from Hamas to to evacuate by 5pm local time (3pm BST).
Air raid sirens sounded in the coastal city and across the country as fierce fighting continued between Palestinian militants in Gaza and Israel’s military.
The Israel Defense Forces say more than 4,500 rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israel since Saturday, when Hamas launched its sudden, multi-pronged attack.
A military official said the death toll from the surprise attack over the weekend has now risen above 1,000.
Israel is pressing ahead with a fierce offensive of airstrikes in Gaza that has claimed 830 lives on the other side and caused widespread destruction.
