Israel largely captured the northern half of Gaza in November, and since a week-long truce collapsed on Friday, they have swiftly pushed deep into the southern half.

According to Reuters, Hamas ally Islamic Jihad’s armed wing said its fighters engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli soldiers north and east of Khan Younis, Gaza’s main southern city.

Israeli tanks have driven into Gaza across the border and cut off the main north-south route, residents said. The Israeli military said the central road out of Khan Younis to the north “constitutes a battlefield” and was now shut.