New Israeli offensive in Gaza City intensifies, forcing Palestinians to flee

Palestinians in northern Gaza said intense bombardments have forced many people to flee the Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City, as the Israeli military confirmed it had launched a new offensive into areas that were heavily bombed and largely emptied early in the war.

Residents described fierce battles in Shijaiyah for a second day in row, driving people to seek safety in western parts of Gaza City.

“It’s like the first weeks of the invasion,” said one man, Mahmoud al-Masry, who left his home Thursday with his parents and four siblings.

Israel's military said Friday troops had been active in the Shijaiyah area, both above and below ground, and warplanes bombed dozens of locations that it said were being used by militants, including United Nations-run schools and facilities.

A Hamas statement Friday reported intense close-quarters combat in Shijaiyah.

There was no immediate word from Gaza’s Health Ministry, which tracks casualties from the conflict.

The fighting comes after Israel issued new evacuation orders Thursday for Shijaiyah and other neighborhoods. In October, Israel had instructed residents to evacuate all of northern Gaza, including the territory’s largest city. Hundreds of thousands of people have remained in the north, even as Israeli troops have surrounded and largely isolated it.