Live updates | Israel conducts deadly Gaza strikes after Biden calls approach to war 'over the top'

Israeli airstrikes struck the central Gaza Strip and the southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt overnight into Friday, causing nearly two dozen fatalities including women and children, witnesses and hospital officials said.

The overnight airstrikes came hours after U.S. President Joe Biden said Thursday that he considers Israel’s conduct in the war to be “over the top.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken left Israel on Thursday as the divide grows between the two close allies on the way forward.

More than half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million has been driven by Israel’s military offensive toward the border with Egypt. Unable to leave the tiny Palestinian territory, many are living in makeshift tent camps or overflowing U.N.-run shelters.

The Palestinian death toll from the war has surpassed 27,840 people, the Health Ministry in Gaza said. A quarter of Gaza’s residents are starving.

The war began with Hamas’ assault into Israel on Oct. 7, in which militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250. Hamas is still holding more than 130 hostages, but around 30 of them are believed to be dead.

Currently:

— Israel and Hamas are far apart on a Gaza cease-fire and hostage deal. What are the sticking points?

— Blinken ends latest Mideast mission after new Israeli snub of proposed Gaza cease-fire plan

— Family says two American brothers, 18 and 20, detained in Israeli raid in Gaza

— US conducts new airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels

— Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.

Here's the latest:

ISRAELI FORCES STORM AL-HAMAL HOSPITAL IN KHAN YOUNIS, PALESTINIAN HUMANITARIAN GROUP SAYS

RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli forces have stormed the Al-Amal