Tens of thousands of Palestinians are fleeing Gaza neighbourhoods where Israeli ground forces have been battling Hamas militants.
Fighting between Israel and Hamas has intensified in the north and in the capital of Gaza City – forcing thousands to flee to the south.
Israeli strikes have pounded Gaza City overnight – and Israeli troops were around 1.8 miles from Shifa Hospital in the heart of the city centre, the hospital’s director said.
Many are fleeing along roads such as the Salah al Din, some carrying white flags to show they are civilians.
The Salah al Din road runs right from the north to the south.
The Israel Defence Forces said they had secured a key Hamas stronghold after a 10-hour battle.
Troops belonging to the Nahal Brigade, one of the IDF’s main infantry units, secured what it called a stronghold named “Outpost 17” in west Jabaliya in northern Gaza.
The IDF said it engaged in fighting “above ground and in an underground route”, suggesting Hamas may have used some of its vast tunnel network during the battle.
Israel-Gaza latest: Key Hamas stronghold secured after 10-hour battle, IDF claims
Aid conference in Paris
It comes as officials from Western and Arab nations, the UN and non-governmental organisations met for an international conference in Paris with the aim of providing urgent aid to civilians in the besieged Gaza Strip.
The conference gathered about 80 countries and organisations to find ways to help wounded civilians escape the siege.
More than 1.5 million people – or about 70% of Gaza’s population – have fled their homes, and an estimated $1.2bn is needed to respond to the crisis in Palestinian areas.
Humanitarian organisations have called for more aid to flow into Gaza, which is ruled by Hamas.
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