Israeli forces have begun a ground offensive in Gaza City, days after the government announced plans to seize large areas of the Strip.

Israeli ministers have said the operation will continue until 59 hostages still held in Gaza are returned.

Hamas warned that the renewed Israeli offensive in Gaza was “highly dangerous” to those hostages and would only free them under a deal that ended the war permanently.

In Gaza City, the Israeli army said ground troops were operating in the Shujaiya area “in order to expand the security zone” established by the military inside the Palestinian territory.

“The situation is very dangerous, and there is death coming at us from every direction,” Elena Helles told AFP via text message, saying her family were trapped in her sister’s house in Shujaiya.

Others had fled the area following an Israeli evacuation order on Thursday.