Israeli air force says it dropped 6,000 bombs in Gaza

Israel's air force said it had dropped 6,000 bombs on 3,600 targets in the Gaza Strip, as the bombardment across the besieged enclave continued into the evening.

"Dozens of fighter jets and helicopters attacked a series of terrorist targets of the Hamas terrorist organization throughout the Gaza Strip. So far, the IAF has dropped about 6,000 bombs against Hamas targets," the Israeli air force stated on Thursday evening.

"The airstrikes killed hundreds of terrorists and attacked over 3,600 targets, including command and control targets, strategic military infrastructure, weapons production sites, intelligence assets, leadership targets, naval superiority targets and rocket system targets."

"We will continue to attack forcefully and relentlessly, as long as necessary."