Massive Israeli air strikes on Gaza

Updated on 27 December 2008

The most intense Israeli air raids on the Gaza strip for decades kill more than 200 Palestinians.

The latest reports from Gaza say 205 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds more have been injured.

Thick black smoke could be seen over the Gaza strip after the first wave of bombs hit.

The Hamas government in Gaza says a significant proportion of the casualties are civilians - many of them women and children - and it has vowed to "unleash hell" to avenge the dead.

The Israelis say the air strikes were a response to an escalation in rocket attacks from Gaza in recent days, after the strained ceasefire between the two sides ended last week.

Israeli F-16 bombers and combat helicopters focused their attack on Gaza City, where Hamas's main security compound was destroyed and a police graduation ceremony was hit.

The southern towns of Khan Younis and Rafah were also hit.

Israel's southern town of Netivot felt Hamas's retaliation - one Israeli was killed in a rocket fired from Gaza.