42 Palestinians killed as Israel ramps up bombing in central Gaza

At least 42 people have been killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip, medical sources told Al Jazeera Arabic, as Israeli forces stepped up their bombardment of central areas and tanks pushed deeper into the enclave’s north and south, reports Al Jazeera.

Six people were killed in two air strikes on a house and near Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip while four others were killed when an Israeli strike hit a motorcycle in Khan Younis in the south, the Reuters news agency reported on Thursday, quoting medics.

Later, an Israeli air strike near a tent camp housing displaced families in eastern Khan Younis killed at least five people and wounded others.

In Nuseirat refugee camp, Israeli warplanes carried out several air attacks, destroying a multistorey building and hitting roads outside mosques. At least 11 people were killed in the strikes, according to health officials at al-Awda Hospital in the camp.

They said in a statement that dozens of families were trapped in their homes after tanks advanced from the northern area of the camp and ambulances were unable to reach them because of continued tank fire.

As Israel escalated its bombardment of the besieged territory, the United Nations warned that more than two million people were trapped in the Gaza Strip with little access to food and no access to safe drinking water._Agencies.