The Israeli army launched a renewed assault on the area on 6 October, as it seemingly began to implement the so-called “general’s plan”, which aims to empty northern Gaza of its 400,000 residents to make way for a “closed military zone”.

The Israeli military’s war jets and artillery have since been striking Jabalia, the largest refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, trapping thousands of people in their homes. The densely populated area has been encircled and besieged for a week, with no food or water coming in.

At least 220 people have been killed since the start of the operation, according to the civil defence in Jabalia.

Conceived by retired Major-General Giora Eiland, “the general’s plan”, which was launched in an Israeli TV campaign in September, called for the ethnic cleansing of northern Gaza, warning that those that remained would face starvation.