Israeli airstrikes kill at least 80 as Trump says he wants to turn Gaza into a 'free zone'

Israel launched a new and intense wave of airstrikes and artillery bombardment on targets across Gaza on Thursday morning, killing at least 80 people, as talks on a new ceasefire continued in Qatar and Donald Trump said he wanted to see the US "make" the devastated territory "a free zone".

Trump's statement recalled the plan he presented in February for the US to take control of Gaza to allow its reconstruction as a luxury entertainment and business hub, reports the Telegraph.

The scheme meant the possible permanent displacement of many or all of its population of 2.3 million and sparked global outrage.

In Qatar, on the third day of his Middle East tour, Trump said: “I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good: make it a free zone, let the United States get involved and just make it a free zone. I would be proud for the United States to have it, take it, make it a free zone.”

Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, rejected the idea, saying: “Gaza is an integral part of Palestinian land – it is not real estate for sale on the open market. We remain firmly committed to the land and our national cause, and we are prepared to make any sacrifice to preserve our homeland and secure the future of our people.”

There were widespread hopes that Trump's regional visit could lead to a new pause in hostilities or a renewal of humanitarian aid to Gaza, where a tight Israeli blockade is now in its third month.

Instead, raids and bombings over the past 48 hours have increased levels of violence in Gaza to more than in weeks, with the death toll approaching that during the early days of Israel's renewed offensive in Gaza after a fragile ceasefire collapsed in March.

Some estimates put the death toll from Thursday's Israeli strikes at more than 100. /Telegraph/