Israeli fighter jets struck three multi-storey buildings in Gaza Saturday, AFP journalists reported, sending clouds of dust into the sky as the towers of more than 10 floors each collapsed.

"The Hamas terrorist organization deliberately places its military assets in the heart of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip," the army said in a statement confirming the strike.

"Prior to the strike, the IDF (army) provided advance warning to the occupants … and asked them to evacuate."