The Israeli army says its forces have launched a military operation at the UNRWA headquarters in Gaza City, claiming that the complex contained combat equipment and detention rooms belonging to Hamas, Al Jazeera reports.

The army said that its forces had previously operated in this area and killed a number of Hamas members and destroyed a tunnel passing under the complex.

The military said that it called on civilians via loudspeakers to leave and that it would open a corridor for the exit of uninvolved civilians from the area.