The US military launched airstrikes early Friday (local time) on two locations in eastern Syria linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Pentagon said, in retaliation for a slew of drone and missile attacks against US bases and personnel in the region that began early last week.

The US strikes reflect the Biden administration's determination to maintain a delicate balance.

The US wants to hit Iranian-backed groups suspected of targeting the US as strongly as possible to deter future aggression, possibly fuelled by Israel's war against Hamas, while also working to avoid inflaming the region and provoking a wider conflict.

READ MORE: Russia is executing its own soldiers for disobedience: White House

Information about the specific targets and other details were not yet provided.

According to the Pentagon, there have been at least 12 attacks on US bases and personnel in Iraq and four in Syria since October 17.

Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said 21 US personnel were injured in two of those assaults that used drones to target al-Asad Airbase in Iraq and al-Tanf Garrison in Syria.

In a statement, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the "precision self-defense strikes are a response to a series of ongoing and mostly unsuccessful attacks against US personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed militia groups that began on October 17".

He said President Joe Biden directed the narrowly tailored strikes "to make clear that the United States will not tolerate such attacks and will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests." And he added that the operation was separate and distinct from Israel's war against Hamas.

READ MORE: Chinese fighter jet flew within three metres of US bomber, Pentagon says

The Biden administration has not accused Iran of having a direct role in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and has said it appears so far that Tehran was not aware of it beforehand.

But the US has noted that Iran has long supported Hamas and has raised concerns that Iran and its proxies could turn the conflict into a wider war.

Austin said the US does not seek a broader conflict, but if Iranian proxy groups continue, the US won't hesitate to take additional action to protect its forces.

According to the Pentagon, all the US personnel hurt in the militant attacks received minor injuries and all returned to duty.

In addition, a contractor suffered a cardiac arrest and died while seeking shelter from a possible drone attack.

The retaliatory strikes came as no surprise. Officials at the Pentagon and the White House have made it clear for the past week that the US would respond, with Ryder saying again Thursday that it would be "at the time and place of our choosing".

"I think we've been crystal clear that we maintain the inherent right of defending our troops and we will take all necessary measures to protect our forces and our interests overseas," he told reporters during a Pentagon briefing earlier in the day.

Biden said Wednesday that he warned Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, that if Tehran continues to "move against" US forces in the Middle East, "we will respond."

The latest spate of strikes by the Iranian-linked groups came in the wake of a deadly explosion at a Gaza hospital, triggering protests in a number of Muslim nations.

The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for the devastating Hamas rampage in southern Israel nearly three weeks ago, but Israel has denied responsibility for the al-Ahli hospital blast and the US has said its intelligence assessment found that Tel Aviv was not to blame.

The US, including the Pentagon, has repeatedly said any strike response by America would be directly tied to the attacks on the troops, and not connected to the war between Israel and Hamas. Such retaliation and strikes against Iranian targets in Syria after similar attacks on US bases are routine.

In March, for example, the US struck sites in Syria used by groups affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard after an Iranian-linked attack killed a US contractor and wounded seven other Americans in north-east Syria.

American F-15 fighter jets flying out of al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar struck several locations around Deir el-Zour.

US officials have routinely stressed that the American response is designed to be proportional, and is aimed at deterring strikes against US personnel who are focused on the fight against the Islamic State group.

READ MORE: Bowling alley mass shooting victim rushed for phone before being killed

US officials have not publicly tied the recent string of attacks in Syria and Iraq to the violence in Gaza, but Iranian officials have openly criticised the US for providing weapons to Israel that have been used to strike Gaza, resulting in civilian death.

The Pentagon, meanwhile, has beefed up air defences in the region to protect US forces.

The US has said it is sending several batteries of Patriot missile systems, a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and additional fighter jets.

The THAAD is being sent from Fort Bliss, Texas, and the Patriot batteries are from Fort Liberty in North Carolina and Fort Sill in Oklahoma.

An Avenger air defense system from Fort Liberty is also being sent.

Officials have said as much as two battalions of Patriots are being deployed.

A battalion can include at least three Patriot batteries, which each have six to eight launchers.

Ryder said Thursday that about 900 troops have deployed or are in the process of going to the Middle East region, including those associated with the air defence systems.

Australia is having an influence on the world "beyond our size" by standing up for its values and inking key economic agreements with other nations, Anthony Albanese has said as his official visit to the United States comes to an end.

In a sit-down interview with 9News chief political editor Charles Croucher, the prime minister said initiatives such as the recent $2 billion boost for critical mineral supply showed the nation was punching above its weight as a "middling power" on the global stage.

"We make a difference in the global economy, the shift that we need for clean energy," he said.

READ MORE: 'This is a great honour': Albanese meets with Biden in Oval Office

"We have the minerals that the world needs.

"We also are a country that stands up for our values.

"So we're a country that has influence, I think, beyond our size, and it's important that Australia have a seat at the table.

"Because in today's interdependent world, what happens in the globe really matters."

READ MORE: Biden 'confident' AUKUS will pass Congress, he tells Albanese

Albanese also spoke about the importance of the relationship between Australia and the United States, including his strong personal understanding with President Joe Biden.

Biden held a state dinner in Albanese's honour this week at the White House, in which he toasted the two nations' "mateship and the future we'll create together".

You can watch Charles Croucher's full interview with Anthony Albanese in the video player above.

Job search website Indeed has complied a list of their top working from home jobs that pay above $45,000.

Patients with terminal illnesses and painful chronic conditions have been offered hope thanks to a deal to replace a drug being discontinued in Australia – but experts are worried about the suitability of the new medicines.

A form of liquid morphine called Ordine, which is used for cancer patients and end-of-life care as well as for people with other conditions, is being discontinued in Australia because it's "not commercially viable".

Doctors said they feared dying patients could face more pain and suffering due to the expected shortage and discontinuation between the end of this year and early 2024.

READ MORE: Family of murdered water polo coach pay tribute 'vibrant, outgoing' daughter

However, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said it has now approved three other forms of liquid morphine from overseas.

Patients will be able to get them from December, as supplies of the original drug run out.

But one patient said the replacements on offer won't be enough to handle their pain.

Pharmacists also say each of the replacement drugs has issues which might make them unsuitable for patients.

Anna McKay, 67, has been taking Ordine for more than a decade for the pain from cauda equina syndrome, which is caused by a compression of a bundle of spinal nerves.

But she needs so much for it to work that she fears she simply won't be able to get enough as the new bottles are a tenth of the size.

"The last liquid morphine on the list from Switzerland is 10mg/ml but only comes in 20ml bottles, not 200ml like Ordine," she said.

"It would only last me a day and bit.

"Scripts for opioids are very well controlled.

"It would be useless for me as it may well be strong enough but it's just not going to be enough. I don't know where I go."

Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) president Tom Simpson said the body was "gravely concerned" over the issue.

"Two of the overseas alternatives approved by the TGA contain alcohol which may not be suitable for all patients," Simpson said.

"One of the alternatives contains sucrose which is not suitable for diabetic and pre-diabetic patients.

"One of the alternatives comes in a concentrated oral drops formulation and is only 20ml per bottle, which is not suitable for patients requiring higher doses.

"This product is also not labelled in English which could cause confusion and safety issues."

Do you have a story? Contact journalist Sarah Swain at ss****@******om.au

A TGA spokesman said the alternative drugs are now listed on its website.

It's understood the TGA will work with the drug companies on listing them quickly on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to allow patients to get them at the cheaper rate, like Ordine.

Otherwise, the SHPA said they could cost up to $100 a script.

"To help manage the discontinuation of Ordine oral liquid for patients and health professionals, we have granted approval for the supply of several overseas registered morphine oral liquid products under section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.

"This issue continues to be a high priority for the TGA."

Lilie James has been remembered by friends and family as a "loving, beautiful girl" who was "filled with love".

The young water polo and swimming coach had just turned 21 when her body was found in the gymnasium bathroom of St Andrew's Cathedral School following a horrific attack just before midnight on Wednesday.

She had been coaching students at the school while she undertook a Bachelor of Management in sports business at the University of Technology.

READ MORE: Body found in search for Lilie's killer

She was due to graduate later this year.

In a statement released today, her family said they were "devastated and heartbroken" by the loss of their "beautiful" daughter.

"She was vibrant, outgoing and very much loved by her friends and family," they said.

"We are tremendously grateful for the support of the community at this difficult time."

James grew up in Sydney's south and family photos on social media dating back to 2008 show her smiling with her brother Max, and her first day of kindergarten.

Her parents' social media pages proudly boast of her achievements, which ranged from dance competition trophies to the day she earned her learner driver's licence.

Posts show James was a champion swimmer who won an under-17s event in 2019, and that her father coached her school water polo team.

Another post from 2018 shows a 16-year-old James proudly holding her L-plates in front of the family car, about to take on the world of driving.

"Let the fun begin," her mother wrote.

Another post from 2018 shows James getting her hair and make-up done for her Year 10 formal, where she is pictured posing and smiling with friends.

In 2020, she graduated from Danebank Anglican School for Girls in Hurstville.

A photograph shows her dressed in her school uniform and graduation dress, beaming with pride.

News of her death has left family friends and the tight-knit water polo community heartbroken, as tributes pour in for the well-loved coach.

A family friend described James as a "loving, beautiful girl" who had a love of teaching and helping others.

"Everyone who has been graced with the presence of Lilie will be broken forever," they said in a statement.

"With tears streaming, numb with disbelief, this new journey is now a long one for the family.

"As close family friends, we will be grieving this loss forever."

Water Polo NSW CEO Alex Godbold said the water polo community was "shocked and saddened" by her death, as she had only just joined as a member of Balmain this season.

"Her loss will be felt across her Club and indeed the broader water polo community, including her students at St Andrew's Cathedral School," he said in a statement.

"While we all come to terms with this tragic news, Water Polo Australia and Water Polo NSW will be working to provide support to her club mates and friends within our community."

In an email to St Andrew's alumni, principal Julie McGonigle invited the school community to attend a support session this afternoon, where counsellors and chaplains will be present.

"I understand that this is a highly upsetting and concerning update, and I want to support our alumni community in any way we can," McGonigle wrote.

If you or someone you know is impacted by domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

A Chinese fighter jet came within three metres of a United States Air Force B-52 bomber flying over the South China Sea, according to the Pentagon.

The Chinese pilot "flew in an unsafe and unprofessional manner, demonstrated poor airmanship by closing with uncontrolled excessive speed, flying below, in front of, and within 10 feet (three metres) of the B-52, putting both aircraft in danger of collision," US Indo-Pacific Command said in statement.

"We are concerned this pilot was unaware of how close he came to causing a collision."

READ MORE: Coast guard ship and supply boat 'rammed' by Chinese vessels

News of the latest Chinese intercept on Tuesday comes as US President Joe Biden is expected to speak with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi when he visits the White House on Friday, CNN reported on Thursday.

It is not clear whether the meeting will be a formal discussion or a more informal meet and greet. Wang is also expected to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan late this week.

Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping may also meet on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in San Francisco next month, though neither side has confirmed finalised plans.

The Pentagon's top official in charge of security in the Indo-Pacific, Ely Ratner, said earlier this month that the US has seen more instances of "coercive and risky" behaviour from Chinese pilots against US aircraft in the last two years over the East and South China Seas than in the entire decade before that.

"Since the fall (autumn) of 2021, we have seen more than 180 such incidents," Ratner said. "It's a centralised and concerted campaign to perform these risky behaviours in order to coerce a change in lawful US operational activity."

READ MORE: US accuses China of 'risky' fighter jet intercepts over Pacific

The Pentagon's efforts this year to engage with Chinese military leadership have gone unanswered, and US officials have grown increasingly concerned about the lack of military-to-military dialogue between the countries.

Beijing cut off the communications after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last year, infuriating Chinese leaders.

As part of the latest National Defence Strategy, the US has pointed to China as the "pacing challenge," capable of competing with America in terms of its military might, economic power and international reach.

Beijing already possesses a standing army of more than one million soldiers, the largest navy in the world by number of ships and the largest air force in the region.

China uses its military might to assert its claims of sovereignty in the South China Sea and beyond, including Taiwan.

In 2022, the Chinese military increased its aggressive actions towards the independent island territory, including ballistic missile overflights, military aircraft flying into Taiwan's aerial identification zone and major exercises near Taiwan.

Though Xi has said he is seeking the peaceful unification of Taiwan with China, he has not renounced the use of military force to achieve his goal.

The names of two of the victims of a mass shooting in Maine in the US have been revealed as the hunt continues for the gunman.

Military reservist Robert Card shot and killed at least 18 people at a bowling alley and restaurant in Lewiston and then fled into the night, sparking a massive search by hundreds of officers while frightened residents stayed locked in their homes on Thursday under a shelter-in-place advisory.

Maine's governor announced during a press conference on Thursday (2am Friday AEDT) that at least 18 people were killed and 13 were injured in the shootings.

READ MORE: Body found as police search for slain Sydney woman's missing colleague

Among the victims were 76-year-old Bob Violette, a children's bowling coach, and Tricia Asselin, 53, who worked at the bowling alley part-time.

"What I'm told is that when it all started happening, she ran up to the counter and started to call 911, and that's when she was shot," her brother DJ Johnson told CNN.

"That was just her. She wasn't going to run. She was going to try and help."

Shooting suspect sparked military concerns

Card had been taken by police for an evaluation after military officials became concerned that he was acting erratically in mid-July, a US official told The Associated Press.

The official said commanders in the Army Reserve's 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment became concerned in mid-July that Card was acting erratically while the unit was training at the US Military Academy at West Point in New York.

The official said military commanders became concerned about Card's safety and asked for the police to be called. New York state police took Card to the Keller Army Community Hospital at West Point for evaluation, the official said.

READ MORE: Israeli troops launch brief ground raid into Gaza

The official was not authorised to publicly discuss information about the incident and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The new information comes as the death toll from the mass shooting rises, while the hunt for Card continues.

Governor Janet Mills said the suspect, who remains at large, was considered "armed and dangerous".

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"This city did not deserve this terrible assault on its citizens, on its peace of mind, on its sense of security," she said.

An arrest warrant for eight counts of murder have been issued for Card, according to state police.

As more victims are identified, the counts against Card will probably grow to 18, Maine State Police Colonel William Ross said.

Police responded to a "very fast moving, very dangerous scene," Ross said, noting that seven people were found dead at the bowling alley and eight at the bar, including one victim who was outside. All had gunshot wounds.

Three people who were taken to hospitals also died, Ross said.

A police bulletin identified Card, 40, as a person of interest in the attack in Lewiston that sent panicked bowlers scrambling behind pins, into corners and a back room when shots rang out around 7pm on Wednesday (10am Thursday AEDT).

Card was described as a firearms instructor believed to be in the US Army Reserve and assigned to a training facility in Saco, Maine.

The document, circulated to law enforcement officials, said Card had been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks in mid-2023.

It did not provide details about his treatment or condition but said Card had reported "hearing voices and threats to shoot up" the military base.

As the manhunt continues to locate the suspect, a shelter-in-place advisory has been extended.

It was issued on Wednesday for Androscoggin County, including the community of Lisbon, about 13 kilometres away, after a "vehicle of interest" was found there, authorities said. It was then extended Thursday to Bowdoin, which is in Sagadahoc County.

Some in the area woke up on Thursday to officers with long guns scouring their neighbourhoods.

"Nerves are rattled right now – keeping an eye on the woods," said Cory, a resident of nearby Lisbon, Maine, whose 10-year-old daughter was inside his home.

"That actually made me feel better. Seeing the cops coming around here, that makes me feel a million times better.

"In the situation like this," he told CNN, "I wish I had a firearm."

Central Maine Healthcare said on Thursday it was closing all physician offices in Lewiston and six surrounding communities for the day. All elective surgery was cancelled at Central Maine Medical Centre.

Major Northeast grocery chain Hannaford Supermarkets kept all its Maine stores closed early on Thursday, the company said.

While schools in multiple communities were closed out of caution on Thursday, including in Kennebunk, an hour away from Lewiston. Classes also were cancelled at Bates and Bowdoin colleges, and the Gorham and Portland campuses of the University of Southern Maine.

With a death toll of 18, the rampage appears to be the deadliest mass shooting of 2023 in the United States, adding to a grim docket of 565 such incidents this year across the country, with four or more shot excluding the shooter, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

It also is the deadliest mass shooting since a gunman in May 2022 killed 19 students and two teachers at a school in Uvalde, Texas.

Wednesday's death toll is also staggering for a state that in 2022 had 29 homicides the entire year.

Author Stephen King responded to the shootings on Thursday morning in a pair of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter.

https://twitter.com/StephenKing/status/1717494552859213988?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"The shootings occurred less than 50 miles from where I live. I went to high school in Lisbon. It's the rapid-fire killing machines, people. This is madness in the name of freedom. Stop electing apologists for murder," he wrote.

Maine doesn't require permits to carry guns, and the state has a longstanding culture of gun ownership that is tied to its traditions of hunting and sport shooting.

It's the 36th mass killing in the United States this year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

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Israel's prime minister has pledged to "smash" Hamas with a devastating ground offensive in Gaza, but putting boots on the ground brings the risk of a military quagmire.

That is the view of one Australian defence expert who spoke with 9news.com.au as Benjamin Netanyahu signalled an Israeli land assault to secure the release of more than 200 hostages held in Gaza was imminent.

Marcus Hellyer, of the Strategic Analysis Australia think-tank, said while Israelis want to see Hamas destroyed for its devastating October 7 attack, every course of action for Tel Avis risks peril.

READ MORE: Biden says Hamas hostages 'obviously' in danger from Israel invasion

"There are simply no good options for Israel in this conflict," he said.

"Israel said it wants to destroy Hamas … but what does that really mean in practice. It can kill some of its leaders and dismantle some of its government, but what then?"

"Does Israel want to stay in Gaza and leave hundreds of thousands of troops there while taking responsibility for two million civilians."

Despite Israeli having one of the world's most advanced and combat-experienced militaries, its troops face a long and bloody mission battling through densely-populated Gaza City.

Shelled buildings, tunnels and basements offered excellent defensive positions for Hamas militants hunkered down and armed with rocket launchers, anti-tanks missiles and assault rifles.

READ MORE: 'Time we teach them a lesson': Israel-UN spat intensifies

"Urban warfare is a great equaliser in military terms," Hellyer said.

While the Israeli army has proved masters of tanks warfare, the narrow streets, alleyways and high-rise buildings in a battlefield such as Gaza City makes them easy targets for anti-armour weapons.

"Fighting block by block through Gaza would likely to be very grinding, with the chance of major casualties for Israel and the civilian population."

And Hellyer said Hamas' threat to execute the Israeli and international hostages it hold also further constrains Israeli's military options.

The captives risk further hard or even execution unless they can be rescued by force.

The much-vaunted Israeli special forces would be likely to lead any rescue operation, but they face the major obstacle of the captives being held in different locations spread across Gaza.

"Any special forces mission would be perilous … if one went ahead, Hamas could execute some of the hostages," Hellyer said.

"There is also the danger of the mission going wrong in a 'Black Hawk Down' situation," he added, in reference to the disastrous US special forces mission against Somali militants in 1993, when an American military pilot was taken hostage.

Despite the uncertainty of the next military phase of the Israel-Hamas conflict, experts are agreed the United States will do its upmost to stay out of direct military action in Gaza.

The Pentagon has amassed a major force in the eastern Mediterranean over past weeks based around two aircraft carrier strike groups.

But while the US has pledged to continue supplying Israel with the weapons it needs to fight Hamas, the role of American forces remains as deterring other countries and none-state groups from exploiting the turmoil, Hellyer says.

"We won't be seeing American warplanes flying combat missions over Gaza." 

Israeli troops and tanks briefly raided northern Gaza overnight (Thursday AEDT), the military said on Thursday, engaging with Hamas fighters and targeting anti-tank weapons in order to "prepare the battlefield" before an expected ground invasion.

The raid came after more than two weeks of devastating airstrikes in the small, densely-populated territory — with more than 250 in the past 24 hours — and as the UN and other world leaders warn of a dire humanitarian crisis getting worse.

Israel has imposed a suffocating siege on Gaza since Hamas' bloody rampage and hostage-taking across southern Israel ignited the war.

READ MORE: 'Australia shows it doesn't have to be this way': Kamala Harris on US gun violence

Residents are running out of food, water and medicine, and UN workers have barely any fuel left to support their relief missions across Gaza, where more than one million Palestinians have been displaced.

The rising death toll in Gaza is unprecedented in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said Thursday more than 7000 Palestinians have died in the conflict, a figure that could not be independently verified.

Even greater loss of life could come if Israel launches a ground offensive aimed at crushing Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007 and survived four previous wars with Israel.

Israeli airstrikes in the southern city of Khan Younis leveled more than eight homes belonging to an extended family, killing at least 15 people. Ambulances raced to the scene as dust from the collapsing buildings hung in the air.

The blast zone was a chaotic wasteland of crumbled concrete and twisted metal. Rescuers carried wounded people covered in gray dust.

The body of a boy was dug out from beneath a concrete slab, where his head had come to rest next to the foot of another person entombed in the wreckage.

The Israeli military says it only strikes militant targets and accuses Hamas of operating among civilians in an attempt to protect its fighters.

Palestinian militants have thousands of rockets into Israel since the war began. One struck a residential building in the central city of Petah Tikva, without wounding anyone.

Hamas' military wing said Thursday that Israeli bombardment has so far killed about 50 of the at least 224 hostages the militants abducted during its October 7 assault. There was no immediate comment from Israeli officials, who have denied previous, similar claims.

The conflict has threatened to ignite a wider war across the region.

Hezbollah, an Iranian-funded ally of Hamas operating out of Lebanon, has repeatedly traded fire with Israel along the border. Israel has carried out airstrikes in Lebanon, Syria and even the occupied West Bank.

The United States has sent to the region two aircraft carrier strike groups with a number of ships, along with additional fighter jets and other weaponry and personnel.

Israel has vowed to crush Hamas' capacity to govern Gaza or threaten Israel again, while also saying it doesn't want to reoccupy the territory from which it withdrew soldiers and settlers in 2005.

That could prove a daunting challenge, since Hamas is deeply rooted in Gaza, with political and charity organizations as well as a formidable armed wing.

Benny Gantz, a retired general and a member of Israel's war Cabinet, said any possible ground offensive would be only "one stage in a long-term process that includes security, political and social aspects that will take years."

"The campaign will soon ramp up with greater force," he added.

During the overnight raid, soldiers killed fighters and destroyed militant infrastructure and anti-tank missile launching positions, the military said. It said no Israelis were wounded. There was no immediate confirmation of any Palestinian casualties.

Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a military spokesman, said the limited incursion was "part of our preparations for the next stages of the war."

Israel also said it had also carried out around 250 airstrikes across Gaza in the last 24 hours, targeting tunnel shafts, rocket launchers and other militant infrastructure. Its reported targeting could not be independently verified.

The Gaza Health Ministry says more than 7000 Palestinians have been killed in the war in less than three weeks, a figure that includes the disputed toll from an explosion at a hospital. That is more than three times the number of Palestinians killed in the six-week-long Gaza war in 2014. The ministry's toll includes more than 2,900 minors and more than 1,500 women.

On Wednesday, the wife, son, daughter and grandson of Wael Dahdouh, a veteran Al-Jazeera correspondent in Gaza, were killed in an Israeli strike. Dahdouh and other mourners attended the funerals on Thursday wearing the blue flak jackets used by reporters in the Palestinian territories.

The fighting has killed more than 1400 people in Israel, mostly civilians slain during the initial Hamas attack, according to the Israeli government.

The warning by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, over depleting fuel supplies raised alarm that the humanitarian crisis could quickly worsen. Israel is still barring deliveries of fuel — needed to power generators — saying it believes Hamas will take it for military use.

About 1.4 million of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have fled their homes, with nearly half of them crowded into UN shelters.

Hundreds of thousands remain in northern Gaza, despite Israel ordering them to evacuate to the south, saying those who remain might be considered "accomplices" of Hamas.

In recent days, Israel has let more than 70 trucks with aid enter from Egypt, which aid workers say is insufficient and only a tiny fraction of what is needed.

"This is … a drop in the ocean," said William Schomburg, an official with the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza. "We are trying to establish a pipeline."

More than half of Gaza's primary health care facilities and roughly a third of its hospitals have stopped functioning, the World Health Organization said.

At Gaza City's al-Shifa Hospital, the lack of medicine and clean water have led to "alarming" infection rates, the group Doctors Without Borders said. Amputations are often required to prevent infection from spreading in the wounded, it said.

Nine Arab countries – including key US allies and nations that have signed peace or normalization deals with Israel – issued a joint statement Thursday calling for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the targeting and death of civilians.

"The right to self defence by the United Nations Charter does not justify blatant violations of humanitarian and international law," said the statement, signed by Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Morocco.

But ACC disagrees and has declined coverage for the boy.