The Israelis are pounding the Gaza Strip relentlessly, preparing the next phase of their operation against the Palestinian enclave that has been under Hamas control since 2007.

A ground invasion is seen as a matter of time while Israel has massed troops and equipment near the border with Gaza ahead of a ground operation there.

He also announced a 3-phase operation aimed at eliminating Hamas and a new “security regime” in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has been continuously shelling the Palestinian enclave since the October 7 Hamas attack that killed thousands – including children.

Israeli IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari told a press conference on Saturday that the Israeli military would “deepen” and “increase” its attacks in Gaza, while the army again dropped leaflets on residents to evacuate to the southern part of the enclave.

“Urgent warning to the people of Gaza. Your presence north of the Gaza Strip puts your life in danger. “Anyone who chooses not to leave northern Gaza (to the areas) south of the Gaza Strip may be identified as an accomplice to a terrorist organization,” the leaflet said.

However, the Israeli army clarified in a statement that there was a “wrong” translation and that it “does not intend to consider those who have not removed themselves as members of the terrorist organization”.

At the same time, he emphasized that it is not targeting civilians and warned the residents of northern Gaza that “those who remain are putting themselves at risk because of Hamas’ terrorist activities in civilian areas.”

At least 55 people – mostly civilians – were killed “overnight until 06:00 in the morning and more than 30 homes were destroyed,” the Palestinian government of the Hamas movement that rules Gaza said in a statement.

At the same time, 4 people were killed and many injured in an Israeli air strike on the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.