Israeli forces have intensified their air and ground offensives in central and southern Gaza, reportedly killing dozens of people.

Qatar-based satellite TV network Al Jazeera said at least 35 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes on two refugee camps in central Gaza on Friday.

Israeli military aircraft also raided a residential area in Rafah in southern Gaza on Thursday night, reportedly killing at least 20 people. Rafah has become densely populated with displaced people.

The Egyptian government announced on Thursday that it had put forward a three-stage plan for a ceasefire to all parties involved. It said it had not yet received responses from any of them.

The proposal aims to halt Israel's military operation in Gaza and restore peace and stability in the region.

The Egyptian government did not give details about the proposal.

But media outlets in the Middle East reported that Egypt proposed that in the first phase, fighting be halted for 10 days, and Israel free a certain number of Palestinian prisoners in return for the release of children and women held hostage by Hamas.

A senior member of the political wing of Hamas told reporters on Thursday that what people want is not a temporary or partial halt to fighting but a comprehensive ceasefire.