Israeli airstrikes kill at least 80 as Trump talks of turning Gaza into ‘freedom zone’

Violence over last 48 hours diminishes hope that US president's visit to Middle East would pause hostilities

At least 80 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling on targets across Gaza as faltering talks on a new ceasefire continued and Donald Trump said he wanted the US to make" the devastated territory into a freedom zone".

Trump's statement recalled the plan he put forward in February for the US to take control of Gaza to reconstruct it as a luxury leisure and business hub. The scheme implied the possible permanent displacement of many or all of the territory's 2.3 million people and triggered global outrage.