Israel's military and its prime minister both said on Tuesday that its forces were "operating inside" Gaza City, with Benjamin Netanyahu saying the city was "encircled.
"Gaza City is encircled, we are operating inside it," Netanyahu said in a televised statement. "We are increasing pressure on Hamas every hour, every day. So far, we have killed thousands of terrorists, above ground and below ground."
Netanyahu again said a cease-fire or a resumption of fuel deliveries was out of the question unless Hamas released its remaining hostages. He repeated his call for civilians to flee south in Gaza to avoid the fighting.
"We will not stop," Netanyahu said.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israeli soldiers were operating in the heart of Gaza's most populous city.
He said Hamas's most senior leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, was isolated in his bunker as Israeli forces were "tightening the noose" around Gaza City.
The government officials were speaking on the one-month anniversary of the Hamas terror attack on Israel that killed roughly 1,400 people and sparked the broader conflict. Various commemorations, including a minute's silence, took place on Tuesday to honor the victims.
