Amid blackout, thousands in north Gaza are trapped between tanks and gunfire

The Israeli military has maintained a communications blackout in northern Gaza, where its forces have besieged the area, cutting it off from the rest of Gaza and stopping aid from entering.

Despite this, Palestinian journalists and doctors have been trying to continue to report on the situation in the area.

Journalist Anas al-Sharif said on Friday that there are likely thousands of families "trapped between tanks, their gunfire, and heavy artillery shelling".

Dr Muneer al-Barsh, the director of Gaza's health ministry, said that the communications blackout has coincided "with the heaviest bombardment" by Israel, and the lack of ability to communicate is preventing ambulances from being able to reach Palestinians who have been wounded.

Al Jazeera reported that there have been at least 450 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in northern Gaza since the siege began two weeks ago.