Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has said Israel will continue its operation in Rafah until Hamas fighters in the area are destroyed or the group hands over Israeli captives it holds, Al Jazeera reports.

Gallant visited troops in the Rafah area and said Israel is willing to make “compromises” to bring home captives.

“If that option is removed, we will go on and deepen the operation. This will happen all over the Strip — in the south, in the centre and in the north.

“Hamas only understands force, so we will intensify our action, and the military pressure will result in us crushing the Hamas organisation,” the Times of Israel quoted him as saying.