A senior commander has said that Israeli forces, backed by warplanes that have dropped hundreds of bombs and other munitions, have been engaged in the heaviest day of fighting since the start of their invasion of Gaza, Reuters reports.

“We are in the most intense day since the beginning of the ground operation,” the commander of the Israeli Defence Forces Southern Command General Yaron Finkelman said.

He said forces were fighting in Jabalia, north of Gaza City and Shuja’iyya, east of the city, and were now also fighting in Khan Yunis, in the south of the enclave.

“We are in the heart of Jabalia, in the heart of Shuja’iyya, and now also in the heart of Khan Yunis,” he said.