The military said it took over part of a major corridor that bisects the enclave, in the most significant ground operation since the collapse of a cease-fire with Hamas.

The Israeli military said Wednesday that it had launched “targeted ground activities” in south and central Gaza, a day after launching an aerial bombardment of the Strip that shattered the two-month-old ceasefire with Hamas.

More than 200 Palestinians were killed in overnight Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-ruled enclave's Ministry of Health said, as Hamas accused Israel of violating a fragile ceasefire deal.