Refugee camp is encircled in hunt for Hamas leaders

ISRAELI forces have encircled Gaza's largest refugee camp which they claim is used as a Hamas base.

- Mark Reynolds

While military activity remained focused on the city of Khan Younis in the south of the Strip, Israel Defence Forces were last night reportedly venturing into the vast Jabalia compound in the north.

IDF said it was intent on "wiping out" all Hamas personnel.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said Jabalia had over 116,011 registered refugees.

Israel said an air strike on the camp in October killed a senior Hamas commander but it believes some operatives may still remain.

Dozens of people were said to have died in that strike, and Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said many more have lost their lives in later strikes as recently as Sunday.