Some Palestinian civilians were fleeing their homes in northern Gaza on Wednesday just weeks after returning because of an Israeli bombardment which they said was as intense as those at the start of the war.
Much of the shelling was focused for a second day on Beit Lahiya on the northern edge of Gaza, where the Israeli military gave evacuation orders to four neighbourhoods on Tuesday, warning they were in a “dangerous combat zone”.
After weeks of relative calm, Israel intensified its attacks overnight on Monday, focusing on areas – particularly in the north – from where it had previously withdrawn troops, saying the Palestinian militant group Hamas was no longer in control.
Israel’s military said on Wednesday it was ready to launch a ground assault on the southern city of Rafah, which it regards as Hamas’ last bastion and which is the only part of Gaza not yet subjected …