The Israeli offensive has not yet succeeded in stopping Hizbollah rocket attacks. There have been several more barrages fired into the country during the day wounding at least 19 people.

Campaigners for reform, who had packed the public gallery, broke into applause and sang the national anthem as MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour.

Thousands of Palestinians stranded in Egypt rushed to the border on Tuesday which EU monitors said would be open for up to 11 hours.