Israeli troops push into Gaza City, forcing Palestinians to flee their assault

Israel pressed ahead Wednesday with an intense new ground offensive in Gaza City, defying international condemnation and sending hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fleeing the devastated, famine-stricken area

Israel pressed ahead Wednesday with an intense new ground offensive in Gaza City, defying international condemnation and sending hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fleeing the devastated, famine-stricken area.

The Israeli military said that troops were “dismantling military structures” used by Hamas in the area and that its air force and artillery had struck the city more than 150 times in recent days to support their advance.

The Israel Defense Forces said a day earlier that it had launched the long anticipated offensive after calling up 60,000 reservists and striking high-rise buildings across the city in preparation.

Overnight strikes killed at least 45 people, hospital officials told NBC News, as a coalition of aid groups urged the international community to bring an end to the attack.

Some 350,000 Palestinians have so far evacuated Gaza City to other areas of the Strip, according to an IDF estimate. The Israeli military repeated warnings Wednesday morning for residents to evacuate the city, and said it had opened up a new route south via Salah al-Din Street.