The military’s expanded assault on Gaza “will increase pressure on Hamas”, Al Jazeera quotes Israel’s defence chief as saying.

“Expanding the operation this morning will increase the pressure on the Hamas murderers and also on the population in Gaza and advance the achievement of the sacred and important goal for all of us,” Israel Katz said in a post on X.

“I call on the residents of Gaza to act now to remove Hamas and return all the hostages. This is the only way to end the war.”