The humanitarian operation in Gaza is “unprecedented”, the executive director of the World Food Programme has told Sky News.

Carl Skau said when he visited Gaza it was clear the military operation was “extremely active” as he could hear bombs constantly and see the ground shaking.

He said: “The scale of this crisis and the complexity of this crisis and this humanitarian operation is unprecedented.”

Asked if he felt failed by world leaders, he added: “We would like to see a humanitarian ceasefire and we need to be able to move in with more supplies.”

He went on to say he “would like to see more crossings” in the region.

Hamas ambushes Israeli troops in refugee camp

Both the Israel Defence Forces and Hamas’s military wing have put out statements regarding an ambush and fierce fighting inside the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. 

While Israeli operations in Gaza have expanded to the south of the enclave, engagements between Hamas fighters and IDF troops have continued in the north. 

Hamas fighters “set up an ambush in the same area [as IDF troops in the camp], preparing to attack our forces as they passed through the central traffic route”, the IDF said.

“The forces flanked the enemy through one of the alleys, surprising them and firing at the terrorists.”

It said a firefight ensued, which ended only when the Hamas fighters were “eliminated”, the IDF said, without offering any further detail. 

Al Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, said on its social media that “since this morning, our mujahideen have been waging fierce battles from zero distance with the enemy forces penetrating west of the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip”.

It is not clear how many casualties each side sustained in the fighting. 

The IDF shared these unverified images, as well as a video, purporting to show its troops engaging Hamas fighters inside the camp.