US SECRETARY of State Marco Rubio was in Israel today as its military intensified attacks on northern Gaza, flattening multiple high-rise buildings and killing at least 48 Palestinians.

Ahead of the trip, Mr Rubio said he would be seeking answers from Israeli officials about the way forward in Gaza following Israel’s attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar last week, which upended efforts to broker an end to the conflict.

The Doha attack, which killed at least six people, also appears to have ended attempts to secure an Israel-Hamas ceasefire and the release of hostages.

Qatar’s prime minister denounced Israel on Sunday as foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim nations met to discuss a possible unified response to Israel’s targeting of Hamas leaders.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Qatar remained committed to working with Egypt and the US to reach a ceasefire, but stressed the time had come for consequences to Israel's attacks.

“It is time for the international community to stop applying double standards and punish Israel for all the crimes it has committed,” he said.

At least 48 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded in multiple Israeli strikes across Gaza today, according to local hospitals.

They said Israeli strikes targeted a vehicle near Shifa hospital, a roundabout in Gaza City and a tent in the city of Deir al-Balah that killed at least six members of the same family.

Two parents, their three children and the children’s aunty were killed in that strike, according to the al-Aqsa hospital. The family was from the northern town of Beit Hanoun, and arrived in Deir al-Balah last week after fleeing their shelter in Gaza City.

Hundreds of thousands of people remain in Gaza City, struggling under conditions of famine.

One strike on Saturday morning hit a house in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood of Gaza City, killing a family of 10, including a mother and her three children, said health officials.

The Palestinian Football Association said a player for the Al-Helal Sporting Club, Mohammed Ramez Sultan, was killed in the strikes with 14 members of his family. Images showed the strikes hitting followed by plumes of smoke.