Israel says its forces conducting operations on Gaza City outskirts

The Israeli military has said its troops are conducting a range of operations on the outskirts of Gaza City, ahead of a new major offensive to capture the sprawling municipal area.

The announcement came a week after Israel's security cabinet approved the capture of the Palestinian territory's largest city following 22 months of war that have created dire humanitarian conditions.

"Over the past few days, IDF troops have been operating in the Zeitoun area, on the outskirts of Gaza City," said the statement released by the Israeli military.

"The troops are operating to locate explosives, eliminate terrorists, and dismantle terrorist infrastructure above and below ground. As part of their activity, the troops struck and dismantled a booby-trapped structure that stored weapons."

The military said that its troops had also been targeted by insurgents firing an anti-tank missile, but said that no personnel were injured during the incident.

On Wednesday, the Israeli military chief of staff said the blueprint for the new offensive had been approved.

In recent days, Gaza City residents have told AFP of an intensifying number of air strikes hitting residential areas, while earlier this week Hamas lambasted "aggressive" Israeli ground incursions in the area.

The Israeli government's plans to expand the war have triggered a wave of international condemnation as well as domestic protests.

Hamas' October 2023 attack which triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Israel's offensive has killed at least 61,827 Palestinians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza which the United Nations considers reliable.