But it was more about recovery than rescue. At least 11 people including five women and four children were killed when the two-storey dwelling was flattened.

This is single deadliest incident so far of the five-day Israeli operation in Gaza and marks a shift in tactics to include bombing the homes of Hamas operatives. It is likely to increase pressure for a ceasefire.

"Why did the missiles target children," asked one man, clearly distraught. "What did they do? Why do they need to attack children?"

"There is no way that there were militants inside", said another. "If they had been Hamas, they would have already left. They were all civilians inside, young children and a mother and father. No one else."

Health workers did what they could to help the injured, ferrying them to hospital in cars. Officials say at least 66 Palestinians have been killed in the offensive, including 32 civilians. Three Israeli civilians have been killed.

Children who survived the attack spoke to the media gathered at the hospital nearby. "Why do we have to be killed?", asked one young girl,"why can't we have a normal childhood? What did we do to deserve this?"