Israeli bombardment has created a "catastrophic" situation in the city's Zeitoun neighbourhood, the city's Hamas-run authority says.

The demonstrations and partial strike were organized by the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum, which said plans to prolong the war could endanger their loved ones.

Israeli police made dozens of arrests on Sunday as tens of thousands of protesters demanding a deal to free hostages in Gaza aimed to shut down the country in one of the largest and fiercest protests in 22 months of war.