Israeli forces pounded areas in the central Gaza Strip overnight, killing three people and dozens of others injured, according to doctors, while tanks advanced deeper into Rafah, despite international opposition.

Israeli warplanes hit a house in the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing two people and injuring 12 others. At the same time, tanks bombarded areas in al Maghazi and al Buraiz camps, injuring many people.

Nusrayit, Maghazi and Burez are three of the eight refugee camps in Gaza.

In Deir al-Bala, a city in the central Gaza Strip where thousands of displaced Palestinians have taken refuge, an Israeli strike killed one man and wounded several others today, medics said.

The Israeli military announced yesterday that its forces are continuing operations across the Palestinian enclave targeting militants and military infrastructure during “precision” operations.

More than eight months after the start of the war in Gaza, Israel is now focusing on two areas it has not yet invaded: fRafah, in the southern part of the enclave, and the area around Deir al-Bala, in the center.

Since May, Israeli operations in the southern Gaza Strip have forced more than a million people to be re-displaced.

In Rafah, near the Egyptian border, Israeli tanks stationed in the city’s western and central districts intensified shelling, forcing more families living in the coastal areas to flee to the north. Some residents said the pace of Israeli operations had increased over the past two days.

“Tanks control most areas in Rafah. People living near the sea have also started fleeing to Khan Younis and the central areas in fear due to the continuous shelling,” said Abu Wasim, a resident of Rafah’s al-Shabura district who fled his home more than a week ago, before the tanks reach the center of the city.

They had taken refuge in Rafa more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants until May 7, when Israeli forces began ground operations in the city. Fewer than 100,000 are estimated to be left behind.

Meanwhile, the armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad announced that their fighters they attacked Israeli forces with anti-tank rockets and mortars and in some areas they detonated explosive devices they had placed.

Today Israeli forces released 33 Palestinians they had arrested in recent months in various areas of Gaza. These people were admitted to al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Bala after they complained of being tortured in Israeli prisons.

Israel denies mistreating Palestinian prisoners. Palestinian and international human rights organizations have criticized the mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners by Israel and have repeatedly asked the Israeli authorities to provide information on their whereabouts and health status.