Israeli troops are going school to school in Jabalia and nearby areas to forcibly remove unarmed, starved and besieged Palestinian civilians from their homes as the military campagin to ethnically cleanse north Gaza nears its third week, eyewitnesses have told Middle East Eye.

Under the cover of heavy air strikes and artillery shelling, large Israeli ground forces directly and systematically attack homes and buildings used as shelters by displaced families, forcing everyone out at gunpoint.

The buildings, including UN schools and houses, are subsequently either razed or burned by Israeli soldiers to prevent people from returning.

Troops then separate men from women, before taking them to humiliating field interrogations and later abducting many of them to unknown locations.

Women and children are forced to head south of Jabalia refugee camp. Some were bombed and killed as they fled, according to media reports.

The offensive began after a controversial proposal named the “Generals’ Plan” was presented to the Israeli government, which would see areas north of the Netzarim Corridor, which cuts Gaza in two, emptied of its residents so Israel could establish a “closed military zone”.

According to the plan, anyone who chooses to stay would be considered a Hamas operative and could be killed.

Palestinians are denied access to food and water, whilst Israeli forces are indiscriminately killing anyone venturing out from their homes, residents and eyewitnesses say.

He said that Israeli forces had intensified their siege tactics in the area and begun planting bombs in water barrels which were strategically placed in front of people’s homes or residential areas.