Families leave Gaza City after night of Israeli strikes on the city's outskirts

Around half of the enclave's two million people currently live in Gaza City, with several thousand already moved westward, pouring into the heart of the city and along the coast.

More Palestinian families left Gaza City on Tuesday after a night of Israeli shelling on its outskirts, as well as in the city's eastern suburbs.

Residents said Israeli aerial and tank shelling continued throughout the night and early on Tuesday in the eastern Gaza City suburbs of Sabra, Shejaia, and Tuffah, as well as in Jabalya to the north, destroying roads and houses.

"Earthquakes, we call it, they want to scare people to leave their homes," said Ismail, 40, a Gaza City resident.

The IDF said it was operating in the area to locate weapons and destroy tunnels used by terrorists. Despite widespread protests at home and international condemnation, Israel is preparing to launch a new offensive in Gaza City, in what it describes as Hamas's last bastion.

Israeli strikes at Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday reportedly killed at least 20 people, including journalists working for Reuters, the Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and others.

At least 34 people were killed in Israeli strikes in the enclave overnight and on Tuesday, the Hamas-affiliated Gaza Health Ministry said, including 18 people around Gaza City.

Thousands move westward

Around half of the enclave's two million people currently live in Gaza City, with several thousand already moved westward, pouring into the heart of the city and along the coast.

Others have ventured further south to central Gaza and the coastal area of Al-Muwasi near Khan Yunis.

Monday's attack on Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis killed cameraman Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters contractor, near a live broadcasting position operated by Reuters.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel deeply regretted what he called a "tragic mishap," but the Israeli military has yet to provide details of the incident.