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Israeli strikes kill 19 in Gaza, tanks push into enclave’s north

International relief agencies say thousands are trapped in Jabilia in northern Gaza, home to the largest of the enclave’s refugee camps

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A Palestinian boy upon seeing the bodies of relatives killed in an overnight Israeli airstrike in the Jabilia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, in front of the al-Maamadani on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Israeli military strikes on Gaza overnight killed at least 19 Palestinians, doctors said on Saturday, while forces continued to push deeper into the Jabilia area, where international relief agencies say thousands of people are trapped.

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Residents said Israeli forces continued to attack Jabilia, which is in the north of the enclave and is the largest of the enclave’s historic refugee camps, from the air and ground.

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, Gaza’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”.

There has been no fresh Israeli comment on deaths but the military said in past days that forces operating in Jabilia and nearby areas killed dozens of militants, located weapons and dismantled military infrastructure.

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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.

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