350 killed in Israeli attack in Gaza

Israel on Thursday attacked the Gaza Strip’s biggest cities killing 350 Palestinians and forcing tens of thousands to flee to rapidly shrinking areas of refuge.

Gazans crammed into Rafah on the southern border with Egypt, heeding Israeli leaflets and messages saying that they would be safe in the city after successive warnings to head south.

But more than 20 people were killed in apartments there late on Wednesday sheltering displaced civilians from the north, said Eyad al-Hobi, a relative of some of those killed.

“All apartments in the building suffered serious damage,” he said as people brought out two apparently lifeless children.

Another relative, Bassam al-Hobi, said the building had been hit by three rockets.

“They targeted women and children, as you can see, and the guests who were told the south would be safe,” he said, gesturing to bodies wrapped in white cloth, some small, lined up on the ground and surrounded by mourners.

In southern Gaza's largest city, Khan Younis, residents reported several Israeli air strikes and non-stop tank fire in the city's east.