Israel announced renewed ground operations in Gaza on Wednesday and issued what it called a "last warning" to residents of the territory to return hostages and remove Hamas from power.
Israel conducted this week the deadliest wave of air strikes since the start of a truce in January, killing hundreds of people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
"Over the past 24 hours, IDF (military) forces have begun targeted ground operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip to expand the security perimeter and create a partial buffer between the north and south of the Strip," the army said in a statement.
"Residents of Gaza, this is the last warning," Defence Minister Israel Katz said.
"Take the advice of the President of the United States. Return the hostages and remove Hamas, and other options will open up for you -- including the possibility of leaving for other places in the world for those who want to."
He was referring to a warning earlier this month by US President Donald Trump, who said: "To the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!"
Long lines of fleeing civilians filled the roads of Gaza on Wednesday as Israel kept up its renewed bombardment despite a chorus of calls from foreign governments to preserve the ceasefire.
Families with young children fled northern Gaza for areas further south, fearing for their lives after Israel urged civilians to leave areas it described as "combat zones".
So far, Hamas has not responded militarily to the strikes, and an official from the group said it was open to talks on getting the ceasefire back on track.
He rejected, however, Israeli demands to renegotiate the three-stage deal agreed with Egyptian, Qatari and US mediators.
"Hamas has not closed the door on negotiations but we insist there is no need for new agreements," Taher al-Nunu told AFP.
"We have no conditions, but we demand that the occupation be compelled to immediately halt its aggression and war of extermination, and begin the second phase of negotiations."
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