Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli attacks killed at least 40 people on Saturday, as the Israeli military hinted at an approaching call to push civilians from Gaza City ahead of a new offensive, AFP reports.

Ahead of the offensive, COGAT — the Israeli defence ministry body responsible for civil affairs in the Palestinian territories — said that starting from Sunday, the military would supply more tents and shelter equipment.

“As part of the preparations to move the population from combat zones to the southern Gaza Strip for their protection, the supply of tents and shelter equipment to Gaza will resume,” it said in a statement.

Hamas later slammed the move, saying the announcement was part of a “brutal assault to occupy Gaza City”.

Earlier, Gaza’s civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said conditions in Gaza City’s Zeitun neighbourhood were rapidly deteriorating with residents having little to no access to food and water amid heavy Israeli bombardment.