This morning, Palestinians in Gaza have also been hearing huge explosions from the eastern areas of Deir el-Balah, Tareq Abu Azzoum of Al Jazeera reports from Deir el-Balah, Gaza.

“Displaced families who are living on the coastal line of Deir el-Balah say that Israeli naval ships have approached the beaches of Gaza, opening fire at makeshift tents, but so far no casualties reported,” the reporter said.

“We have been told by medical teams and Gaza’s health ministry that more than 5,000 Palestinians have been killed during this military operation (in northern Gaza), while more than 10,000 others were wounded,” Azzoum added.

“Israel has justified these actions as a military operation to dismantle Palestinian armed groups — but it has led to the displacement of over 400,000 Palestinians who are right now trapped in Gaza City — and such sorts of attacks have laid bare the vulnerability of families who have been caught on the front lines,” he said.

“Elsewhere, we have reports that five civilians were killed in two separate air strikes on two residential buildings in the Shujayea neighbourhood, which has been described by the Israeli military to be a stronghold for the Hamas movement,” Azzoum concluded.