Israeli strikes on central Gaza killed at least 62 people, including women and children, according to medical sources in the Palestinian territory.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said they were investigating.
Earlier, the IDF said it began targeted operations on Tuesday al-Bureij in central Gaza and areas in eastern Deir al-Balah.
The IDF carried out airstrikes on Hamas military sites and weapons depots, as well as on underground infrastructure of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. “Several Hamas terrorists were eliminated in the attacks,” the IDF said.
Israeli soldiers were previously stationed in al-Bureij early this year, but later withdrew from the area. However, Hamas still has a presence in the densely populated area, the IDF said.
Residents of the two neighboring refugee camps al-Bureij and al-Maghazi told dpa on Wednesday that there had been continuous attacks in the area throughout the night and that thousands of people had fled to the nearby Nuseirat refugee camp.
The IDF also continued operations in Rafah, in the southern coastal region, and said armed men who posed a threat to Israeli soldiers were killed.
