"Over the past day, Israel Defense Forces troops in the Southern Command, both regular army and reservists, launched an extensive ground operation throughout the northern and southern Gaza Strip as part of the launch of Operation Gideon's Chariots," the military said in a statement.

At least 153 people were killed and 459 were injured in the past 24 hours as IDF operations intensify across the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health.