The announcement comes as fighting intensifies across Gaza, with heavy clashes reported in the Zaitoun neighborhood of Gaza City and Khan Yunis in the south. The israeli occupation forces launched airstrikes and artillery attacks in Zaitoun, while both sides exchanged fire in Khan Yunis.

Palestinian resistance groups, including Hamas's Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades and the Islamic Jihad Movement's Saraya al-Quds, claimed responsibility for several attacks against zionist forces. The al-Qassam Brigades claimed to have killed an israeli officer and destroyed a military vehicle with improvised explosive devices. They also reported targeting an Israeli Merkava tank in the Zaitoun neighborhood. Saraya al-Quds launched mortar attacks against Israeli units in the same area and released footage of rocket barrages targeting Israeli reinforcements.

Meanwhile, the israeli military confirmed the death of a soldier from the elite Givati Brigade, bringing the total number of deaths within the unit to two in the past two days. This comes after the army admitted on Saturday to the death of a company commander in the northern Gaza Strip.

Palestinian resistance sources believe the actual number of Israeli casualties is significantly higher than officially reported. (ILKHA)