Israeli military tanks have started to go deeper into the Jabalia refugee camp as part of a new offensive in northern Gaza, according to our correspondent. The development comes after Israel “carpet-bombed” the camp, killing and wounding several Palestinians.
The attacks come as Israel launches a new ground assault there, months after announcing Hamas had been “dismantled” in the area.
Israel has told tens of thousands more Palestinians to leave Rafah, as it intensifies military operations in southern Gaza.
Flyers dropped from the air and posts on social media told residents in the city’s eastern districts to go to al-Mawasi – a narrow coastal area which Israel calls an “expanded humanitarian zone”.
Parts of Rafah where the streets were packed with locals and displaced people just days ago, now look like a ghost town.
Israel has said it will proceed with planned operations in Rafah despite the US and other allies warning that a ground offensive could lead to mass civilian casualties and a humanitarian crisis.
On Saturday, US President Joe Biden said a ceasefire in Gaza was possible as soon as the next day if Hamas released its hostages.
“Israel said it’s up to Hamas, if they wanted to do it, we could end it tomorrow. And the ceasefire would begin tomorrow,” he told a fund-raising event in Seattle.
Israel says 128 people taken hostage by Hamas on 7 October are unaccounted for, 36 of whom are presumed dead.
