Israeli forces expel hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza's Jabalia, streets 'strewn with bodies'

Israeli forces have expelled hundreds of Palestinians from the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, where a siege on the area entered its 19th day.

The move comes amid fears that Israel was implementing the 'General's Plan' - a controversial proposal to ethnically cleanse Gaza's north and indefinitely occupy it.

Palestinians forced to leave northern Gaza along 'safe' routes to the south have reported seeing streets strewn with dead bodies of people killed by Israeli forces. The army has prevented those expelled from carrying the wounded or deceased with them.

"We left the place leaving behind corpses and injured people asking for help without us being able to treat them," Jabalia resident Yaser Hamad was quoted by The New Arab's Arabic-language service, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, as saying.

Hamed had sought refuge with his family for 17 days in a shelter in Jabalia until an Israeli strike hit the shelter on Monday.

"Among the martyrs was my son Ahmed, whom I was unable to say goodbye to, embrace for the last time, or even shroud and bury properly," Hamed said.

Images posted on social media show Palestinians of all ages being rounded up and forced to flee on foot. 

Diaa al-Kahlout, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed's Gaza correspondent, said Israeli forces had continued to target civilians fleeing the area.

"Israeli drones targeted IDPs fleeing the hell of missiles and ground incursions with live ammunition in Tal al-Zaatar and the vicinity of UNRWA schools in Beit Lahia project and Jabalia, and these small drones now control the areas surrounding the incursion and are conducting operations to prepare for further ground advances," Kahlout said.

In a statement, Hamas accused Israel of implementing the 'General's Plan' in northern Gaza, describing Israel's actions as "genocide in its most heinous forms".

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly disavow the 'General's Plan', after a meeting on Tuesday.

Citing an unnamed US official, the Times of Israel reported that Netanyahu sidestepped the request, despite denying to Blinken that the 'General's Plan' was being implemented.

Blinken also urged Netanyahu to "leverage" the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to secure the return of the Israeli captives and a ceasefire.

Tel Aviv had previously accused Sinwar of being a key obstacle to negotiations, however continued to expand its offensive on Gaza following his death last week. Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have also insisted that the war should continue until "total victory".

Israeli forces have killed 42,718 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded 100,282 people since October 2023, according to the health ministry in Gaza.