
Israel Katz said the expanded operation aimed to "destroy and clear the area of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure", and would require a large-scale evacuation of Palestinians.
Later, at least 19 Palestinians, including nine children, were killed in a strike on a UN clinic sheltering displaced families in the northern town of Jabalia, the nearby Indonesian hospital said.
The Israeli military said it targeted "Hamas terrorists" hiding there.
Overnight strikes across Gaza killed at least 20 more people, according to local hospitals.
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