Palestinians flee northern Gaza as Israel masses troops for assault

Israel had given the population of the northern half of the Gaza Strip until Saturday morning to move south

Smoke and fire rise following an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, on Saturday. Picture: Ariel Schalit/AP

Thousands of Palestinians fled the north of the Gaza Strip on Saturday from the path of an expected Israeli ground assault, while Israel pounded the area with more air strikes and said it kept two roads open to let people escape.

Israel has vowed to annihilate the Hamas militant group that controls Gaza in retaliation for a rampage by fighters, who stormed through Israeli towns a week ago, gunning civilians down and making off with scores of hostages. Some 1,300 people were killed in the worst attack on civilians in Israel's history.