At least 29 people have been killed in Israeli military strikes on northern Gaza, according to medics, as Israel steps up its attacks on the north of the Strip.
On Saturday, Israeli forces from the air and ground continued to pound and push deeper into the northern area of Jabalia, which is the largest of the enclave’s historic refugee camps, with international relief agencies saying thousands of people are trapped there.
Israel struck two houses in Jabalia and the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, killing 19 people overnight, while 10 more died on Saturday evening, with medics fearing the death toll could continue to rise as many of the wounded are in critical condition.
The Israeli military published new evacuation orders on Saturday to two neighbourhoods on the northern edge of Gaza City, which also lies in the north of the enclave, saying the area was a “dangerous combat zone”.
In a statement, the Strip’s Hamas-run interior ministry urged residents not to relocate within northern areas of the enclave and also to avoid heading south “where the occupation is conducting continued bombing and killing every day in the areas it claims to be safe”.
The Israeli military said it had been operating against Hamas fighters who had been using civilian buildings and that clear evacuation instructions had been issued over recent days to areas including the Kamal Adwan Hospital.
It said an evacuation convoy to take patients from the hospital to Gaza City had arrived on Saturday with a supply of fuel for the facility.
In recent days, the military had said that forces operating in Jabalia and nearby areas killed dozens of militants, located weapons and dismantled military infrastructure.
On Saturday, it said more than 20 fighters had been killed by tank fire, close range gunfire and airstrikes as forces continued operations throughout the Strip.
The operation in this area began a week ago and the military said then it aimed to fight against militants waging attacks and to prevent Hamas from regrouping. Hamas denies that its fighters deliberately use civilian areas as bases.
Palestinian health officials put the number of people killed in Jabalia over the past week at around 150.
In Lebanon, Israel similary warned people in the south of the country to get out of the way of its offensives against the Iran-backed Hezbollah as the country escalates its air and ground campaign against the militant group.
The UN peacekeeping force said its headquarters in Naqoura was hit again, with a peacekeeper struck by gunfire late on Friday and in stable condition, although it was not clear who fired. It occurred a day after Israel’s military fired on the headquarters for a second straight day. Israel, which has warned peacekeepers to leave their positions, did not immediately respond to questions.
Amid Israel’s war with Hezbollah, a top UN official, Carl Skau, told The Associated Press he is concerned that Lebanon’s ports and airport might be taken out of service. More than 1 million people have been displaced.
