Palestinian civilians are reportedly fleeing their homes in northern Gaza after an Israeli bombardment said to be as intense as those at the start of the war.
Much of the shelling has been focused on Beit Lahiya on the northern edge of Gaza, where the Israeli military had given evacuation orders to four neighbourhoods on Tuesday, warning they were in a “dangerous combat zone”.
Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee had said the military “will work with extreme force against terrorist infrastructure and subversive elements” in the region.
From Monday, Israel has reportedly intensified its attacks, focusing on areas, particularly in the north, from where it had previously withdrawn many of its troops, saying Hamas was no longer in control.
In the past 24 hours, Israeli strikes have killed 79 Palestinians and wounded 86 others, the Gaza Health Ministry said.
Residents in northern Gaza and suburbs of Gaza City also reported heavy shelling.
Mohammad Jamal, 29, a resident of Gaza City, near Zeitoun, one of Gaza’s oldest suburbs, said: “It is as if the war started again. As if it is just happening, they burnt up the place.”