ISRAELI air strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 14 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and also destroyed bulldozers and other heavy equipment that had been supplied by mediators to clear rubble.

Israel’s 18-month offensive against Hamas has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and the territory already had a shortage of heavy equipment to rescue people from the rubble left by Israeli strikes and to clear vital roads.

A local council in the Jabaliya area of northern Gaza said a strike had destroyed nine bulldozers provided by Egypt and Qatar, which helped broker the ceasefire that took hold in January.