Health officials say Israeli airstrikes overnight and into Saturday have killed at least 23 Palestinians in Gaza.

International aid agencies warn that plans presented by Israel to control aid distribution in Gaza will only increase suffering and death in the devastated Palestinian territory.

The US has confirmed that a new system for providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza through private companies is being prepared, as Israel's blockade continues for a third month. The US ambassador to Israel said "distribution centres" protected by private security contractors would provide food and other supplies to up to a million people initially,