Israeli ground forces have "started to operate" around a northern Gaza town, expanding an anti-Hamas offensive that will apparently see residents kept out indefinitely.

North Gaza is the centre of a renewed Israeli offensive that over the past five weeks has unleashed some of the Israeli military’s most devastating attacks

United Nations officials described the situation in northern Gaza as “ apocalyptic ,” and warned the entire population there is at risk of death. The strikes come as a US’ deadline set last month for Israel to “surge” food and emergency aid into Gaza is set to expire. Aid groups said Israel has failed to meet the US demands.