In a post on X on Wednesday, the military's Arabic spokesman Avichay Adraee said families relocating to the south would "receive the most generous humanitarian aid". Israeli tanks pushed into a new area of Gaza City overnight, forcing more residents to flee, witnesses said. Thousands have already moved because of recent Israeli advances - mostly to other parts of the city, where about a million Palestinians still live. The evacuation call comes as US President Donald Trump is expected to chair a meeting on a post-war vision for Gaza at the White House.

In early August, Israel announced plans to occupy the whole Gaza Strip - including Gaza City, which it described as Hamas's last stronghold. The UN and non-governmental organizations have warned that an Israeli offensive in Gaza City would have a "horrific humanitarian impact". Late on Tuesday, tanks entered the Ibad al-Rahman district, in the city's northern outskirts, destroying several homes, Reuters news agency reported.

"All of a sudden, we heard that the tanks pushed into Ibad al-Rahman, the sounds of explosions became louder and louder, and we saw people escaping towards our area," Saad Abed told Reuters in a message from his home in Jala Street, about 1km (0.6 miles) away. On Wednesday, the tanks reportedly retreated to Jabalia, an area further north where they have been operating. Bombardment also continued in Gaza City's Shejaiya, Zeitoun and Sabra districts. (BBC)