Tel Aviv, Israel

Israeli forces pounded central Gaza by land, sea and air on Wednesday (Dec 28) and Palestinian authorities reported dozens more deaths, with the UN health agency saying thousands of people were trying to flee the fighting.

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Reflecting Israeli resolve to wipe out Hamas despite international calls for a ceasefire amid a humanitarian crisis, Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi said on Tuesday the war would last many months. There were "no shortcuts in dismantling a terrorist organisation", he said.