Israel widens ground operations in Gaza

Palestinian civilians told to head to a 'humanitarian zone' in the south

• Medical authorities in the Gaza Strip say 8,005 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's campaign

Israeli forces are expanding ground operations in Gaza while their fighter jets have struck hundreds more Hamas targets, the Israeli military said on Sunday, in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the second phase of a three-week-old war.

Telephone and internet communications were partially restored in Gaza on Sunday after a more than day-long blackout that had badly impacted rescue operations as Israel pounded targets of the militant Hamas group that controls the territory.

"Israel cut us off from the world in order to wipe us out, but we are hearing the sounds of explosions and we are proud the resistance fighters have stopped them at metres' distance," said Shaban Ahmed, a public servant who stayed in Gaza City despite an Israeli warning to evacuate south.