Hamas’ media office says the cars were struck in three places as they headed south from Gaza City. It was not immediately clear who the target of the airstrikes was, or whether militants were among the passengers.

The army ordered residents to evacuate the city early Friday ahead of an expected ground invasion.

Thousands of Palestinians fled to southern Gaza in search of refuge after Israel warned them to evacuate before an expected ground offensive against Hamas in retaliation for the deadliest attack in Israel's history.

Nearly 1,800 Gazans,  most of them civilians and including over 580 children, have been killed in waves of missile strikes on the densely populated enclave, the Palestinian health ministry said.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior in Gaza told Al Jazeera, "There is no sanctuary here, evident from the assault by the occupation on vehicles transporting displaced civilians."