Israeli jets flatten more homes  

A Palestinian family in northern Gaza were shocked this morning when they woke up to a call from an Israeli intelligence officer telling them their home was about to be levelled.

Ammar Banat, who lived in the targeted residential building in Beit Lahia, received the call around 9am local time. 

"The officer said: 'Evacuate your home and ask your neighbours to leave as well, we are about to bomb the building,'" Banat told Middle East Eye.

"We then told him that we haven't done anything," the 47-year-old added. "But he said I don't care, evacuate the area."

Banat then rushed to warn his two brothers and their families, who lived next door, and other neighbours. 

Minutes later, Israeli fighter jets bombed the building, destroying it completely and making at least 25 people homeless, mostly children.

"We didn't have time to take anything out," Banat, a father of three, said. "My priority was to ensure my children and neighbours evacuate in time." 

Since the start of the assault in Gaza on Tuesday, the Israeli military destroyed at least 28 residential units, displacing dozens of families. More than 500 other residential units were partially damaged.