Italy and Spain have sent naval vessels to assist the Global Sumud Flotilla as it sails to take aid to Gaza. The “unprecedented move” from the two governments follows “repeated attacks” against the flotilla, including one from a drone, blamed on Israel and an escalation in “Israeli rhetoric” against the activists, said Al Jazeera.

Israeli troops pushed deep into Gaza City on Sunday, ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu focused on ending the war in the Palestinian territory.

The U.N. children's charity called on Monday for an immediate evacuation to save at least 25 ill or premature babies in incubators in Gaza City as Israel steps up its ground offensive, shelling a hospital overnight housing around half of them.

In the past day, the IDF says troops of the 98th Division killed a Hamas cell commander and three other operatives in a strike; and forces of the 162nd Division killed additional operatives in “direct encounters” and by calling in strikes.

Israel's military says troops have "begun pushing into the heart of Gaza City," renewing its call for thousands of war-weary civilians to evacuate.

The city had been spared from widespread demolitions during previous military operations there. This time is different.

An estimated 1 million Palestinians were living in the Gaza City region before warnings to evacuate began ahead of the offensive. The Israeli military estimates 350,000 people have left the city. The U.N. estimates that more than 238,000 Palestinians have fled northern Gaza over the past month. Hundreds of thousands more have stayed behind.

Israeli tanks advanced deeper into several densely populated neighbourhoods of Gaza City on Sunday, with health authorities unable to respond to dozens of desperate calls for help. Witnesses and medics told Reuters that the tanks entered key residential areas including Sabra, Tal al-Hawa, Sheikh Radwan and al-Nasser.

Doctors Without Borders pulled its staff from Gaza City as the medical system buckled. The U.N. has warned that more hospitals may have to close.