Israeli forces face fierce resistance in Gaza's Jabalia camp, withdraw from Zeitoun

Israeli forces encountered stiff resistance in Gaza's northern Jabalia refugee camp on Wednesday, as Palestinian groups claimed a deadly attacks against troops across the coastal enclave.

Footage released by Hamas' armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, purportedly showed intense battles in which Palestinian fighters targeted Israeli armoured vehicles, sniped at soldiers in buildings and fired mortar rounds at troop gatherings east of Jabalia.

Israel began a fierce attack on the camp earlier this week, killing and injuring dozens of people. 

The Qassam Brigades claimed on Wednesday to have carried out an operation that killed at least 12 Israeli soldiers in the Jabalia camp. Israel's army has not announced any casualties corresponding to the claims, but said that a soldier had been killed in battles in Gaza's south.

Other armed Palestinian groups, including Islamic Jihad's Al Quds Brigades and the Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades also announced clashes with Israeli forces in the Jabalia camp.

Local sources told Turkey's Anadolu agency that Israeli forces destroyed several homes in the camp, following the army's announcement of an expanded operation on the area.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli army announced its withdrawal from the Zeitoun neighbourhood south of Gaza City, after a second military operation that lasted about a week. The army threatened to return and resume military operations there “if necessary”.

Palestinian medical teams said they had found 10 bodies in the area after Israeli forces withdrew. Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip has so far killed at least 35,233 people, mostly women and children, according to health ministry figures.

A previous Israeli assault on the area in February saw the displacement of hundreds of Palestinian families.

Israel's war on Gaza has driven most of the Palestinian enclave's 2.3 million people from their homes.

The military offensive has so far killed at least 35,173 people, according to the Gaza health ministry.