Israeli strikes overnight killed at least 85 Palestinians across Gaza, hitting multiple homes and killing men, women and children as they slept, according to local officials.

At least 91 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded in airstrikes across Gaza on Thursday after Israel resumed bombing and ground operations, the enclave's health ministry said, effectively ditching a two-month-old ceasefire.

The Israeli military said Wednesday that it had launched “targeted ground activities” in south and central Gaza, a day after launching an aerial bombardment of the Strip that shattered the two-month-old ceasefire with Hamas.

Israel said it sent ground troops back into the center and south of the Gaza Strip, expanding a military operation that began with airstrikes a day earlier that Palestinian authorities said killed hundreds of people.