Two children are reported to be among 19 people killed today by Israeli troops during a major military operation in southern Gaza.
The Israeli army says the operation in Rafah, aimed at hunting down militants, has escalated since last week when Palestinians blew up an armoured vehicle, killing five soldiers.
A source said the only way they would destroy homes was if they found a tunnel inside or if it was being used as a shelter by terrorists.
Under cover of darkness, troops fanned out into Rafah's Tel al-Sultan neighbourhood as soldiers carried out house-to-house searches for militants.
The assault by tanks and infantry has drawn United Nations and European Union criticism amid concern that they could make thousands of Palestinians homeless.
