ISRAELI strikes have killed at least 55 more Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, hospital officials said today.

This followed senior government officials saying on Wednesday that Israel would seize large areas of Gaza and establish a new security corridor across the coastal enclave.

Israel has vowed to escalate the war with Hamas until the resistance group returns dozens of remaining hostages, disarms and leaves the territory. Israel has imposed a month-long halt on all imports of food, fuel and humanitarian aid that has left civilians facing acute shortages as supplies dwindle.