Israeli forces have killed dozens of Hamas militants during their advance in the north of the Gaza Strip, the country’s military said on Monday.

This took place as ground operations expanded in the Palestinian territory.

“During clashes with terrorists in the Gaza Strip, IDF (Israel Defence Forces) troops killed dozens of terrorists who barricaded themselves in buildings and tunnels and attempted to attack the troops,’’ the military said.

“In one incident, an IDF aircraft guided by IDF ground troops struck a staging post inside a building belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation, with over 20 Hamas terrorist operatives inside it.’’

The IDF said its forces struck over 600 terror targets over the last few days, including weapons depots and dozens of anti-tank missile launching positions.

This was as well as hideouts and staging grounds used by the Hamas terrorist organisation.

The coastal strip on the Mediterranean Sea was one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with about 2.2 million people living on around 45 square kilometres.

Rather than a sudden large-scale ground attack, Israel’s military is opting for a gradual expansion of its ground operations against Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the goal of the offensive as the destruction of the military capabilities of Hamas.

The Islamist movement has ruled Gaza since 2007 and their removal from power.

Israeli missiles and warplanes have pounded the Gaza Strip since Hamas militants launched a large-scale attack on Israel on October 7, which killed more than 1,400 people.

More than 200 others were taken hostage.

The health ministry, controlled by Hamas, has put the death toll in Gaza at more than 8,000 since the start of the war. 

(dpa/NAN)