The IDF says intensive fighting continues in southern Gaza's Khan Younis, as its 98th

The IDF says intensive fighting continues in southern Gaza's Khan Younis, as its 98th Division advances in the area, killing numerous Hamas operatives.

Amid the offensive, the IDF says the division's Commando Brigade directed an airstrike against three Hamas operatives who were attempting to plant explosives devices near the troops.

Meanwhile, the Maglan commando unit raided several Hamas sites in Khan Younis, including a weapons depot, and the Egoz commando unit "eliminated many armed terrorists at close range," the IDF says.

Also in Khan Younis, the IDF says the Givati Brigade killed "a large number" of Hamas operatives in several separate clashes.

In one of the encounters, a seven-man Hamas cell that fired RPGs at troops from a building was shelled by an IDF tank, the military says, adding that Givati soldiers killed several more gunmen in the area.

In another incident in Khan Younis, the 7th Armored Brigade spotted a Hamas operative preparing an observation post to later direct an attack on troops. The IDF says the soldiers called in an airstrike.