Israel warns Gazans to leave homes as air strikes continue

Israel has ordered thousands of Palestinians in eastern and northern Gaza to leave their homes as it continues air strikes, the BBC reported.

The warning came after an Egyptian truce initiative failed to halt militant rocket attacks on Israel.

Hamas initially rejected the truce but an official later told the BBC it would consider a political solution.

Palestinian officials say Israeli raids have killed 194 people so far. Israel on Tuesday reported its first fatality.

The resumption of air strikes come after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had "no choice" but to step up the military campaign.

"When there is no ceasefire, our answer is fire," Mr Netanyahu said.

The Israel Defense Forces are using recorded telephone messages, warning 100,000 residents of Gaza to leave their homes before 08:00 (05:00 GMT) on Wednesday.

Israel also targeted the house of a senior Hamas official in western Gaza early on Wednesday.

Mahmud al-Zahar, a member of the political bureau of the movement, was not at home at the time.

Israel launched its Operation Protective Edge eight days ago. Its stated objective is to halt Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel, but the UN says the majority of those killed in Gaza have been civilians.

Hamas says the terms of the ceasefire did not address concerns over the economic blockade of the Gaza strip, which has caused severe economic hardship for many Palestinians.