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Dozens have been killed in Gaza during violent fighting Sunday and within hours of the expected release of hostages in the war-torn region, according to local reports.

The clashes between local militias also came ahead of a televised address in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the imminent hostage release “the beginning of a new path.”

The Israeli president had cautioned, “The campaign is not over. There are still very great security challenges ahead of us.”

Locals said gunfire had sent families fleeing in panic.

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: ISRAELI HOSTAGE FAMILIES PLEAD, PEACE FALTERS, AND WAR GRINDS ON IN GAZA

“This time people weren’t fleeing Israeli attacks. They were running from their own people,” one witness told the BBC.

Acc

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