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Israel pounds central Gaza as Palestinian death toll in hostage rescue raid rises to 274

A man injured in the Israeli strikes on the Nuseirat refugee camp is helped to safety (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

Nidal al-Mughrabi, Dan Williams

Israeli forces pounded central Gaza anew on Sunday, a day after killing 274 Palestinians during a hostage rescue raid, and tanks advanced into further areas of Rafah in a bid to seal off part of the southern city, residents and Hamas media said.

Palestinians remained in shock over Saturday's death toll, the worst over a 24-hour period of the Gaza war for months and including many women and children, Palestinian medics said.