'No place is safe': families flee Gaza City as Israeli tanks pound outskirts

Israeli aircraft and tanks have pounded the eastern and northern outskirts of Gaza City, destroying buildings and homes, as Israel's leaders vowed to press on with an expanded large-scale offensive on the city.

- Angelique Chrisafis

Witnesses reported the sound of continuous explosions from Saturday night into Sunday morning in the areas of Zeitoun and Shuja'iya. Meanwhile, tanks shelled houses and roads in the nearby Sabra neighbourhood and several buildings were blown up in the northern area of Jabaliya.

Fire lit the skies from the direction of the explosions, causing panic and prompting some families to stream out of the city. Others said they would prefer to die and not leave. About half of Gaza's population of roughly 2 million now live in Gaza City. A few thousand have already left, carrying their belongings on vehicles and rickshaws.

"I stopped counting the times I had to take my wife and three daughters and leave my home in Gaza City," Mohammad, 40, told Reuters. "No place is safe, but I can't take the risk. If they suddenly begin the invasion, they will use heavy fire."

Some said they would stay in the city, despite the explosions. "We are not leaving, let them bomb us at home," said Aya, 31, who had a family of eight, adding that they could not afford to buy a tent or pay for the transportation, even if they did try to leave. "We are hungry, afraid and don't have money."