Israeli airstrikes against Hamas militants have displaced 264,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the UN’s humanitarian relief agency said.

They are sheltering in school buildings, with relatives or neighbours, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza, launched a large-scale attack against Israel on Saturday, killing at least 1,200 people and kidnapping around 100 others.

Israel responded with ongoing airstrikes on the densely packed coastal enclave.

At least 900 people have died in Gaza, health officials there say.

OCHA reported Israeli airstrikes on several residential buildings in Gaza.

OCHA, citing the Ministry of Public Works and Housing in Gaza, said more than 1,500 housing units were destroyed or severely damaged.

In addition, five facilities that provided water and sanitation for half a million people were damaged.

More than two million people live in the Palestinian territory.