Blackout In Gaza; Follow Law Of War', Urges Biden

Residents of the Gaza Strip faced ever-growing uncertainty on Wednesday as entire city blocks lay in ruins and the territory's only power plant ran out of fuel and shut down after Israel's withering campaign of air and artillery strikes on the crowded Palestinian enclave, in retaliation for weekend's surprise attack by the Hamas militant group, continued for the fifth day.

The war, which has claimed more than 2,200 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate as Israel deployed tanks and armoured vehicles just north of Gaza, where the clashes were reported, in what appears to be preparation for a possible ground invasion. Meanwhile, the armed wing of Hamas, Al Qassam Brigades, said it was still fighting inside Israel on Wednesday, though there was no confirmation from the Israeli side.

US President Joe Biden called the Hamas attacks "an act of sheer evil", but he urged Israel to follow the "law of war".

"The brutality of Hamas this bloodthirstiness - brings to mind the worst-the worst rampages of ISIS. This is terrorism...

Like every nation in the world, Israel has the right to respond indeed has a duty to respond...

Terrorists purposely target civilians, kill them. We uphold the laws of war," Biden said.

Israeli airstrikes further demolished entire neighbour hoods and sent people scrambling to find safety. And hospitals in the Gaza Strip were struggling to treat the injured with dwindling medical supplies. In response, militants in Gaza continued to fire rockets at Israel on Wednesday, including a heavy barrage at the southern town of Ashkelon, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damages.

British foreign secretary James Cleverly, who is visiting Israel to show solidarity, was seen running into a building in Ofakim as a siren sounded warning of incoming Hamas rocket fire, in a video clip posted on X (formerly Twitter) by the Israeli foreign ministry.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken was also set to reach Israel on Thursday to prevent a wider war from erupting and in a show of solidarity with Washington's closest West Asia ally.