Israeli forces have advanced deeper into some towns on the eastern side of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US lawmakers he was actively engaged in bringing hostages home, Reuters reports.

Fighting in recent days has centred around the eastern towns of Bani Suaila, Al-Zanna, and Al-Karara, where the army said on Wednesday it had found the bodies of five Israelis who were killed in Hamas’ Oct 7 attack on Israel and held in Gaza since.

Several were wounded in the eastern towns during Israeli tank and aerial shelling, while an airstrike east of Khan Younis killed four people, Palestinian health officials said.

Israeli bombardment intensified in several areas in Rafah, near the border with Egypt, as tanks operated north, west and in the town centre, residents and medics said. Several Palestinians were also wounded in Israeli fire earlier today.

The Israeli military claimed forces operating in Khan Younis killed dozens of fighters and dismantled around 50 military infrastructures, while it continued activities in Rafah, killing two gunmen.