ISRAEL has launched a fresh ground offensive to occupy Gaza City in its latest bid to root out Hamas and eliminate the terror group once and for all.

The Israeli military announced the start of the operation while also warning the million Palestinians still stuck in the tiny region to move to "humanitarian areas".

The new offensive, as reported by Axios , marks a major escalation in the brutal almost-two-year-long war.

It also follows recent weeks of increased airstrikes on Gaza City, targeting what the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) say are Hamas strongholds.

Dramatic pictures have shown flattened buildings and decimated high-rise apartments following the strikes.

The IDF say 300,000 Palestinians have left Gaza City so far - but called on the hundreds of thousands left to also flee.

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