GAZA STRIP: PALESTINE – Latest Israeli air attacks on Gaza Strip in the early hours on Friday have left at least 18 Palestinians dead and others injured when Israeli forces launched airstrikes across Gaza strip.

Medical sources said that seven Palestinians were killed and others injured when Israeli forces bombed a family home in Jabalia al-Nazla, in northern Gaza.

Three more were killed when two tents sheltering displaced people in western Khan Younis were hit by Israeli shelling, they added.

Two more Palestinians were killed and several injured when a civilian vehicle was struck in Abasan al-Kabira, east of Khan Younis. Another was killed by Israeli gunfire in the al-Shakoush area, northwest of Rafah.

The Israeli army also demolished residential homes in the al-Tuffah neighborhood of eastern Gaza City and in al-Qarara town, north of Khan Younis.

Overnight, the Israeli army ordered Palestinians living in parts of northern Gaza to evacuate westward as it expands its offensive in a move toward a permanent occupation of the enclave.

The latest assault follows a deadly Thursday assaults in which nearly 70 Palestinians were killed in widespread Israeli air and artillery attacks across the besieged territory.