Gaza City, the Hamas militant group's main bastion in the territory, is now surrounded by Israeli forces.
The military said troops have advanced to the heart of the city, while Hamas says its fighters have inflicted heavy losses.
Air strikes had also killed a Hamas weapons maker, Mahsein Abu Zina, and several fighters, the Israeli military said.
The Israeli military had told them they should move south of the Wadi Gaza wetlands along the main Salah al-Din Road.
Hamas's armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, said its fighters had destroyed an Israeli tank in Gaza City.
Persons:
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Organizations:
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Locations:
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