United Nations officials say the number of casualties in Gaza is overwhelming Palestinian hospitals.
The Palestinian health ministry says more than 500 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed since the Israelis began their assault on Gaza more than a week ago. Of these, it says, 70 have died since the ground offensive began on Saturday. Some 2500 people have reportedly also been wounded.
The figures could not be independently verified. Israel is refusing to let international journalists into Gaza despite a ruling by its supreme court to admit a limited number of reporters.
Much of the tiny territory - which is smaller in area than the Wellington region of Lower Hutt and has a population of 1.5 million people - is now without power and running water.
Some families have been fleeing and others have been hiding in cellars.
United Nations officials say much of Gaza is now without electricity or telephone services.
The head of the United Nations Humanitarian Relief Organisation there, John Ging, says conditions were already extremely hard for most people in Gaza and they have been made much worse by the Israeli invasion. He says nobody has stockpiles in their homes and everything is in short supply.
The BBC reports that the fighting is preventing desperately needed medical supplies getting through to hospitals.
