On Monday, fighters and residents said Hamas was preventing Israeli tanks from moving farther west and clashing with Israeli forces in northern Gaza, where Israel had said its mission was largely complete.

According to Reuters, Israel claimed dozens of Hamas fighters had surrendered and urged others to join them.

Residents reported exchanges of fire near the coastal road and Hamas media said fighters foiled an attempt by Israeli naval forces to make a landing of forces offshore.

Israeli bombing continued into the night on Monday, residents and health officials said. Medics said Israeli air strikes killed at least 15 people in separate strikes in the central and southern Gaza strip.