Amid growing international pressure for a ceasefire, Israel said it was pounding Gaza with "significant" strikes after cutting it in two. A military spokesperson said that the Israeli troops had surrounded the main city in Gaza.
"They reached the coast in the southern part of Gaza City and they encircled Gaza City," army spokesperson Daniel Hagari said.
The strikes came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again vowed that "there won't be a ceasefire until the hostages are returned".
"We will simply continue until we win. We have no alternative," he said.
The war began when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7 and killed 1,400 people.
Over 9,700 people -- mostly children and women -- have reportedly died since Israel started its offensive in retaliation for the Hamas rampage.
