Israel pounds Gaza City in preparation for planned offensive
Planes and tanks have pounded parts of Gaza City as Israel’s plans to seize the territory’s largest urban area increase pressure on nearly a million Palestinians living there.
Residents have spoken of uninterrupted explosions in northern and eastern parts of the city.
Israeli troops have also returned to blow up buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia further north.
Sixty-four people were killed and nearly 300 injured in Israeli attacks in the past 24 hours, the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry said.
It said the overall number of those killed since Israel launched its massive campaign to defeat Hamas had risen to 62,686 – with another 157,951 injured.
Israel’s military launched an operation in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to defeat Hamas and defied international criticism over his plans to expand the war.
Some 60,000 reservists are being called up to take part in the Israeli operation.
