Israel’s military has taken the first steps of a planned operation to take over Gaza City, Reuters reports quoting Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin.

Following a clash with Hamas south of Khan Younis in the strip, he said: “We will deepen the attack on Hamas in Gaza City, a stronghold of governmental and military terror for the terrorist organisation.”

Defrin said troops had already begun circling the outskirts of Gaza City and Hamas was now a “battered and bruised” force.

“We have begun the preliminary operations and the first stages of the attack on Gaza City, and already now IDF forces are holding the outskirts of Gaza City,” he said.

Israeli troops clashed with more than 15 Hamas fighters who emerged from tunnel shafts and attacked with gunfire and anti-tank missiles near Khan Younis, south of Gaza City, severely wounding one soldier and lightly wounding two others, an Israeli military official said.

In a statement, Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades confirmed carrying out a raid on Israeli troops southeast of Khan Younis and engaging Israeli troops at point-blank range.