Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 53 people

Israel's army chief, visiting troops in Gaza, threatened a 'larger' offensive in Gaza if hostages seized in the Hamas Oct.7 attack on Israel are not freed

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Gaza rescue teams and medics said Israeli air strikes killed at least 53 people on Thursday, as the military issued fresh evacuation orders ahead of a planned attack.

Israel resumed its military offensive in the Gaza Strip on March 18, after the collapse of a two-month ceasefire that had brought a temporary halt to fighting in the blockaded Palestinian territory.

Israel's army chief, visiting troops in Gaza on Thursday, threatened a “larger” offensive in Gaza if hostages seized in the Hamas October 7, 2023 attack on Israel are not freed.

“If we do not see progress in the return of the hostages in the near future, we will expand our activities to a larger and more significant operation,” Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said.

Six members of one family -- a couple and their four children -- were killed when an air strike levelled their home in northern Gaza City Thursday, the civil defence said in a statement.

Nidal al-Sarafiti, a relative, said the strike happened as the family was sleeping.

“What can I say? The destruction has spared no one,” he told AFP.