Israel launched a wave of air strikes on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing at least 225 Palestinians, injuring hundreds more and raising the prospect of massive retaliation by the Islamist group.

The attacks were aimed at some 30 sites across the densely-populated Gaza Strip and were described by the Israeli army as Hamas targets and infrastructure facilities. However, many of the dead and wounded were reported to be civilians. Television footage from the strip showed scores of injured Palestinians, including women and children, being rushed to hospital, many in private vehicles or on improvised stretchers. It also showed piles of dead bodies in uniform lying on a street outside one of the buildings hit by Israeli warplanes.