Israel launches new strikes on Gaza as calls for ceasefire grow

Israel conducted dozens of air strikes on the Gaza Strip on Monday, after Palestinian militants fired barrages of rockets at southern Israeli cities.

The pre-dawn raids on Gaza were some of the heaviest seen since the fighting began a week ago.

Israel said it hit facilities belonging to the militant group Hamas and several commanders' homes, but main roads and power lines were also damaged.

There were no immediate reports of casualties following the strikes.

People in Gaza have told of their fear. "I was getting ready to die. I had to be at peace with it," Najla Shawa, a Palestinian humanitarian worker and mother of two, told the BBC.

"People we know [were killed], people we work with… ordinary people, professional people, young and old."