More than 100 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting in Gaza on Tuesday - one of the bloodiest days since the Israeli bombardment of the coastal strip began three weeks ago.
The high death toll comes as Israel moved to escalate its military offensive on Monday - a campaign the IDF claims is intended to end the rocket fire that comes from Gaza into the Israeli heartland.
Palestinian relatives mourn over the body of Rana Duheir, a five-year-old girl killed in an Israeli air strike
The Palestinian death toll has now surpassed 1,100 since the hostilities began in early July, a figure that includes many civilians.
A total of 56 Israelis have been killed in the same period, including three civilians.
Since Israel began ground operations in the territory, several days have seen the death toll exceed 100.
The Gaza Strip’s only power plant was also damaged on Tuesday, jeopardising its electricity and water supply, according to reports.
A spokesman for the electricity distribution company said it was hit by shells fired by an IDF tank, though the Israeli military said it could not verify this and was "checking" the report.
The Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) said it and Hamas were willing to observe a 24-hour humanitarian ceasefire but Hamas contradicted this, saying the PLO did not speak for it.
Israel said offers of truces were "not serious" unless Hamas was on board.
Gaza under attack
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Smoke and fire from the explosion of an Israeli strike rise over Gaza City, Tuesday, July 29, 2014. Israel escalated its military campaign against Hamas on Tuesday, striking symbols of the group's control in Gaza and firing tank shells that shut down the strip's only power plant in the heaviest bombardment in the fighting so far. The plantâs shutdown was bound to lead to further serious disruptions of the flow of electricity and water to Gazaâs 1.7 million people. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Palestinians from a damaged apartment building inspect the damage to a neighboring building, the offices of the Hamas movement's Al-Aqsa satellite TV station, in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, destroyed by an Israeli strike, Tuesday, July 29, 2014. Early Tuesday, Israel warplanes struck a series of targets in Gaza City, including the top Hamas leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh's house and government offices, while Gaza's border area with Israel was hit by heavy tank shelling. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Palestinians from a damaged apartment building inspect the damage to a neighboring building, the offices of the Hamas movement's Al-Aqsa satellite TV station, in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, destroyed by an Israeli strike, Tuesday, July 29, 2014. Early Tuesday, Israel warplanes struck a series of targets in Gaza City, including the top Hamas leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh's house and government offices, while Gaza's border area with Israel was hit by heavy tank shelling. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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In this image taken from video an explosion hits the media complex that houses the offices of Hamas-run Al Aqsa television and radio in central Gaza City early on Tuesday, July 29, 2014. The building also houses offices of a number of Arab satellite television news channels. (AP Photo/APTN) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Smoke and fire from the explosion of an Israeli strike rise over Gaza City, Tuesday, July 29, 2014. Israel escalated its military campaign against Hamas on Tuesday, striking symbols of the group's control in Gaza and firing tank shells that shut down the strip's only power plant in the heaviest bombardment in the fighting so far. The plantâs shutdown was bound to lead to further serious disruptions of the flow of electricity and water to Gazaâs 1.7 million people. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Israeli residents and relatives take cover from a rocket attack from Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip during the funeral of Israeli soldier Corporal Meidan Maymon Biton, 20, at the cemetery of the southern Israeli city of Netivot on July 29, 2014. Meidan was killed the previous day when a mortar shell fired from the Gaza Strip hit the Eshkol regional council, which flanks Gaza's southern border with Israel. AFP PHOTO/GIL COHEN-MAGEN (Photo credit should read GIL COHEN MAGEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GIL COHEN MAGEN via Getty Images)
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Israeli residents and relatives take cover from a rocket attack from Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip during the funeral of Israeli soldier Corporal Meidan Maymon Biton, 20, at the cemetery of the southern Israeli city of Netivot on July 29, 2014. Meidan was killed the previous day when a mortar shell fired from the Gaza Strip hit the Eshkol regional council, which flanks Gaza's southern border with Israel. AFP PHOTO/GIL COHEN-MAGEN (Photo credit should read GIL COHEN MAGEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GIL COHEN MAGEN via Getty Images)
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Israeli residents and relatives take cover from a rocket attack from Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip during the funeral of Israeli soldier Corporal Meidan Maymon Biton, 20, at the cemetery of the southern Israeli city of Netivot on July 29, 2014. Meidan was killed the previous day when a mortar shell fired from the Gaza Strip hit the Eshkol regional council, which flanks Gaza's southern border with Israel. AFP PHOTO/GIL COHEN-MAGEN (Photo credit should read GIL COHEN MAGEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GIL COHEN MAGEN via Getty Images)
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Israeli residents and relatives take cover from a rocket attack from Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip during the funeral of Israeli soldier Corporal Meidan Maymon Biton, 20, at the cemetery of the southern Israeli city of Netivot on July 29, 2014. Meidan was killed the previous day when a mortar shell fired from the Gaza Strip hit the Eshkol regional council, which flanks Gaza's southern border with Israel. AFP PHOTO/GIL COHEN-MAGEN (Photo credit should read GIL COHEN MAGEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GIL COHEN MAGEN via Getty Images)
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Palestinian mourners gather around the bodies of fifteen members of the Abu zeid, Duheir and al-Hashash families, that were killed in an Israeli air strike on their home, during the funeral in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on July 29, 2014. Israel's bombardment of Gaza left dozens more Palestinians dead after a black day for the Israeli army, with the spiral of violence showing no sign of abating. AFP PHOTO/ SAID KHATIB (Photo credit should read SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAID KHATIB via Getty Images)
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A Palestinian relative mourns during the funeral for fifteen members of the Abu zeid, Duheir and al-Hashash families, that were killed in an Israeli air strike on their home, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on July 29, 2014. Israel's bombardment of Gaza left dozens more Palestinians dead after a black day for the Israeli army, with the spiral of violence showing no sign of abating. AFP PHOTO/ SAID KHATIB (Photo credit should read SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAID KHATIB via Getty Images)
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Palestinian relatives carry the body of five year old, Rana Duheir, a Palestinian girl killed in an Israeli air strike, during her funeral in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on July 29, 2014. Israel's bombardment of Gaza left dozens more Palestinians dead after a black day for the Israeli army, with the spiral of violence showing no sign of abating. AFP PHOTO/ SAID KHATIB (Photo credit should read SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAID KHATIB via Getty Images)
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Palestinian relatives carry the body of a member of the Duheir family, killed in an Israeli air strike on their home, during his funeral in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on July 29, 2014. Israel's bombardment of Gaza left dozens more Palestinians dead after a black day for the Israeli army, with the spiral of violence showing no sign of abating. AFP PHOTO/ SAID KHATIB (Photo credit should read SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAID KHATIB via Getty Images)
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A Palestinian man stands looking as flames engulf the fuel tanks of the only power plant supplying electricity to the Gaza Strip after it was hit by overnight Israeli shelling, on July 29, 2014, in the south of Gaza City. The damage of the power plant exacerbated the heavy damage to civilian infrastructure in Gaza already inflicted during the 22 days of the Israeli offensive aimed at stamping out militant rocket fire and destroying attack tunnels. AFP PHOTO/MAHMUD HAMS (Photo credit should read MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:MAHMUD HAMS via Getty Images)
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The Nuseirat power station burns in the background in this general view over Gaza City on July 29, 2014. The only power plant supplying electricity to the Gaza Strip was knocked out of commission by Israeli shelling, deputy director of the energy authority in the Palestinian territory said. AFP PHOTO/ MARCO LONGARI (Photo credit should read MARCO LONGARI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:MARCO LONGARI via Getty Images)
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A picture taken from the southern Israeli Gaza border shows an Israeli army UAV flying over the Gaza strip on July 29, 2014. Bloodshed in war-torn Gaza surged with dozens more Palestinians killed as the conflict raged into a fourth week and Iran accused Israel of genocide in the tiny enclave. AFP PHOTO / JACK GUEZ (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JACK GUEZ via Getty Images)
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A Palestinian man stands looking as flames engulf the fuel tanks of the only power plant supplying electricity to the Gaza Strip after it was hit by overnight Israeli shelling, on July 29, 2014, in the south of Gaza City. The damage of the power plant exacerbated the heavy damage to civilian infrastructure in Gaza already inflicted during the 22 days of the Israeli offensive aimed at stamping out militant rocket fire and destroying attack tunnels. AFP PHOTO/MAHMUD HAMS (Photo credit should read MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:MAHMUD HAMS via Getty Images)
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Israeli soldiers and tanks hold their position on the Israeli side of the border with the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory, on July 29, 2014. Smoke is seen in the background billowing from the only power plant supplying electricity to the Gaza Strip after it was knocked out of commission by Israeli shelling. Bloodshed in war-torn Gaza surged with dozens more Palestinians killed as the conflict raged into a fourth week and Iran accused Israel of genocide in the tiny enclave. AFP PHOTO / JACK GUEZ (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JACK GUEZ via Getty Images)
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Palestinian neighbours of the Al Aqsa television station dig through rubble after the building was destroyed in an Israeli strike in central Gaza City on July 29, 2014. Following two nights without air strikes, the violence returned to Gaza's skies overnight, with dozens more Palestinians killed and Israeli warplanes pounding 60 targets, among them the strips main power station and the house of a top Hamas official. AFP PHOTO/ MOHAMMED ABED (Photo credit should read MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:MOHAMMED ABED via Getty Images)
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Palestinian neighbours of the Al Aqsa television station dig through rubble after the building was destroyed in an Israeli strike in central Gaza City on July 29, 2014. Following two nights without air strikes, the violence returned to Gaza's skies overnight, with dozens more Palestinians killed and Israeli warplanes pounding 60 targets, among them the strips main power station and the house of a top Hamas official. AFP PHOTO/ MOHAMMED ABED (Photo credit should read MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:MOHAMMED ABED via Getty Images)
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An Israeli canon fires a 155mm shell towards targets in the Gaza Strip from their position along the border between Israel and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on July 29, 2014. Bloodshed in war-torn Gaza surged on with dozens more Palestinians killed as the conflict raged into a fourth week and Iran accused Israel of genocide in the tiny enclave. AFP PHOTO/ DAVID BUIMOVITCH (Photo credit should read DAVID BUIMOVITCH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:DAVID BUIMOVITCH via Getty Images)
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Palestinian relatives mourn for victims of the Duheir family, near the rubble of their home, after it was destroyed by an Israeli air strike in Rafah on July 29, 2014, in the southern of Gaza strip. Bloodshed in war-torn Gaza surged with dozens more Palestinians killed as the conflict raged into a fourth week and Iran accused Israel of genocide in the tiny enclave. AFP PHOTO/ SAID KHATIB (Photo credit should read SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAID KHATIB via Getty Images)
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Smoke rises while Palestinian rescuers search for victims under the rubble of the home of the Duheir family, after it was destroyed by an Israeli air strike in Rafah on July 29, 2014, in the southern of Gaza strip. Bloodshed in war-torn Gaza surged with dozens more Palestinians killed as the conflict raged into a fourth week and Iran accused Israel of genocide in the tiny enclave. AFP PHOTO/ SAID KHATIB (Photo credit should read SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAID KHATIB via Getty Images)
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Palestinian relatives mourn for victims of the Duheir family, near the rubble of their home, after it was destroyed by an Israeli air strike in Rafah on July 29, 2014, in the southern of Gaza strip. Bloodshed in war-torn Gaza surged with dozens more Palestinians killed as the conflict raged into a fourth week and Iran accused Israel of genocide in the tiny enclave. AFP PHOTO/ SAID KHATIB (Photo credit should read SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAID KHATIB via Getty Images)
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A picture taken from the southern Israeli Gaza border shows smoke billowing from a power plant in the coastal Palestinian enclave following an Israeli air strike on July 29, 2014. The only power plant supplying electricity to the Gaza Strip was knocked out of commission by Israeli shelling, deputy director of the energy authority in the Palestinian territory said. AFP PHOTO / JACK GUEZ (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JACK GUEZ via Getty Images)
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Palestinian rescue workers carry the body of a member of Duheir family, after removing it from under the rubble of a building destroyed by an Israeli air strike in Rafah on July 29, 2014, in the southern of Gaza strip. Bloodshed in war-torn Gaza surged with dozens more Palestinians killed as the conflict raged into a fourth week and Iran accused Israel of genocide in the tiny enclave. AFP PHOTO/ SAID KHATIB (Photo credit should read SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAID KHATIB via Getty Images)
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Palestinian rescue workers search for victims in a building destroyed by an Israeli air strike in Rafah on July 29, 2014, in the southern of Gaza strip. Bloodshed in war-torn Gaza surged with dozens more Palestinians killed as the conflict raged into a fourth week and Iran accused Israel of genocide in the tiny enclave. AFP PHOTO/ SAID KHATIB (Photo credit should read SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAID KHATIB via Getty Images)
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A Palestinian man carries a gas cylinder out of a building as others looks on after the home was hit by an Israeli air strike in Rafah on July 29, 2014, in the southern of Gaza strip. Bloodshed in war-torn Gaza surged with dozens more Palestinians killed as the conflict raged into a fourth week and Iran accused Israel of genocide in the tiny enclave. AFP PHOTO/ SAID KHATIB (Photo credit should read SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SAID KHATIB via Getty Images)
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A Palestinian man reacts in front of a destroyed mosque after it was hit by an Israeli air strike, on July 29, 2014, in Gaza City. Bloodshed in and around Gaza surged with strikes killing at least 13 Palestinians, a day after five Israeli soldiers died, shattering hopes for an end to three weeks of violence. AFP PHOTO/MAHMUD HAMS (Photo credit should read MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:MAHMUD HAMS via Getty Images)
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A Palestinian man displays national flags, Islamist Hamas movement flags and portraits of Hamas top leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, on the rubble of the latter's house after it was hit by an overnight Israeli air strike, on July 29, 2014 in Gaza City. Bloodshed in and around Gaza surged with strikes killing at least 13 Palestinians, a day after five Israeli soldiers died, shattering hopes for an end to three weeks of violence. AFP PHOTO/MAHMUD HAMS (Photo credit should read MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:MAHMUD HAMS via Getty Images)
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Palestinian and Islamic flags and a portrait of the top Hamas leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, are placed on the rubble of his house hit by a pre-dawn Israeli strike, in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, July 29, 2014. Early Tuesday, Israel warplanes struck a series of targets in Gaza City, including Haniyeh's house and government offices, while Gaza's border area with Israel was hit by heavy tank shelling. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)