Israel’s military has expanded its ground operations in Gaza as warplanes hit hundreds more Hamas targets, the Israeli military said Sunday, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was the second phase of the three-week war.

Israeli soldiersPhoto: JALAA MAREY / AFP / Profimedia

Israeli ground forces continue operations in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, eliminating armed militants of Hamas and destroying the targets of the Islamist group, according to the Times of Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces says troops have killed several armed Hamas militants who opened fire on ground forces in the Gaza Strip, as well as other terrorists identified on a Gaza beach near the southern Israeli community of Zikim.

According to the Israeli military, ground forces, including tanks, also struck anti-tank guided missile positions, observation posts and other Hamas infrastructure.

The air force also struck buildings used by the terrorist group, the army added.

The IDF on Sunday released images showing troops conducting operations in the Gaza Strip, as well as some of the recent air strikes on the enclave.

Over the past day, fighter jets of the Israel Defense Forces hit more than 450 Hamas military targets in the Gaza Strip.

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