Israeli air strikes have destroyed hundreds of buildings in the Gaza Strip overnight, the civil defence service in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory said.

“Hundreds of buildings and houses were completely destroyed and thousands of other homes were damaged,” said Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for the Gaza Civil Defence.

The intense bombardments had “changed the landscape” of northern Gaza, he told AFP.

Witnesses said most of the bombing was concentrated on areas around two hospitals — Al-Shifa and the so-called Indonesian hospital — located in Jabaliya district of northern Gaza.

The strikes left wide craters in the streets and flattened many buildings in the area.