Anxious families of hostages have called for a “nationwide day of stoppage” in Israel on Sunday to express growing frustration over 22 months of war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the evacuation of civilians to designated safe areas will precede the military operation. He called Gaza City "Hamas' last stronghold" and emphasised that measures would be taken to move residents out of harm's way.

JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Reuters) -Gaza residents will be provided with tents and other shelter equipment starting from Sunday ahead of relocating them from combat zones to "safe" ones in the south of the enclave,