Israel-Hamas conflict: Before and after images show damage to northern parts of Gaza after airstrikes

Before and after images show how parts of northern Gaza have been largely destroyed by Israeli airstrikes.

The territory has been under heavy bombardment for nearly three weeks after the Hamas militant group launched a surprise attack on Israel on 7 October.

Gaza's health ministry says more than 6,500 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, while official Israeli sources says 1,400 have died in Israel.

Follow live: Israeli troops and tanks cross into Gaza

The UN's Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, said nearly 600,000 people have been internally displaced in Gaza.

The slider below shows an area of the city of Beit Hanoun before and after it was hit by Israel strikes. The first picture was taken on 10 October while the second was captured on 21 October.

The second slider below also shows parts of Beit Hanoun have been levelled by airstrikes. The earlier part of the image was captured on 1 May while the most recent aerial shot was taken on 23 October.

Sky News journalist and former Gaza-based correspondent Nicole Johnston has said Israel will most likely move in from the north of Gaza, and through the cities of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia, if it carries out its widely expected invasion of the territory.

This final slider compares the damage in the al Karama neighbourhood of the northern Gaza Strip.

The earlier image was captured on 10 May while the most recent shot was taken on 21 October.

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The images have emerged as Israel sent tanks and troops into northern Gaza overnight in the "biggest incursion" of the war with Hamas so far, according to the country's military.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it carried out a brief ground raid to strike several military targets.

The attack was intended to "prepare the battlefield" before the anticipated full-scale ground invasion.