The resumption of fighting between Israel and Hamas is “the nightmare that everyone utterly feared,” the UN says.
A temporary ceasefire expired at 07:00 (05:00 GMT) with both warring sides blaming each other for the resumption of hostilities.
Since then, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 100 people have been killed.
The renewed fighting has been met with a mixture of fear and anger among Gazan residents.
On Friday morning, the sound of heavy gunfire could be heard in areas of northern Gaza infiltrated by the Israeli military, with clashes breaking out between Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants.
There seemed to be no let up in the pace of fighting after the ceasefire, with jet fighters and reconnaissance planes deployed.
“Around 06:30 the drones started flying,” Mohammad Ghalaiyini, a Briton who is currently in Khan Younis with his family, said in a voice message sent to the BBC. “Around 07:30, I think, the bombings started and there’s been like non-stop bombing every ten, 15, 20 minutes.”
Leaflets dropped by the Israel Defense Forces warned that areas east of Khan Younis and Salah al-Din are “dangerous” combat zones and urged people in some parts to head to shelters further south in Rafah, close to the Egyptian border. (BBC)