Israel accuses Hamas of using medical facilities for military purposes, which could cause them to lose their protected status under international law, but the IDF has often provided little evidence to support this.

Israeli forces are showing no signs of relenting on their new ground offensive in Gaza City as world leaders gather in New York for the United Nations General Assembly and more countries prepare to join the surge of nations recognizing a Palestinian state.

By Nidal al-Mughrabi CAIRO (Reuters) -Israeli forces blew up more residential buildings in Gaza City on Sunday, killing at least 31 Palestinians and prompting many others to flee, Gazan health authorities said,

Hamas-linked social media channels say "three collaborators who were spying for the occupation" were executed.

An estimated 1 million Palestinians were living in the Gaza City region before warnings to evacuate began ahead of the offensive. The Israeli military estimates 350,000 people have left the city. The U.N. estimates that more than 238,000 Palestinians have fled northern Gaza over the past month. Hundreds of thousands more have stayed behind.

As Israel's ground offensive in Gaza City escalates, Shaina Low of the Norwegian Refugee Council warns civilians are trapped, forced to choose between staying under bombardment or fleeing south.

The Israel Defense Forces is continuing its operation to take control of Gaza City, the largest urban area in the Gaza Strip, despite international outcry.

Israeli bombardment over the past 23 months has killed more than 65,000 people in Gaza, destroyed vast areas of the strip and displaced around 90% of the population.