Israel’s president Isaac Herzog says a copy of Hitler’s book Mein Kampf was found on the body of a Hamas operative at a base they were using in northern Gaza.

He said it showed that some in Hamas were researching Hitler’s anti-semitic ideology.

Asked by the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg if Israel’s response to the attack by Hamas on 7 October has become disproportionate, Herzog said that “first and foremost we defend ourselves”.

He said Israel was conducting its operations in Gaza “according to the rules of international humanitarian law” and it warned civilians of strike targets in advance.

He acknowledged that there had been civilian deaths in Gaza but blamed Hamas for many of the tragedies there.