US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is now on a tour of the Middle East, and he is expected to discuss the possibility of scaling back combat operations in the Gaza Strip with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Israeli prime minister has indicated that his country will continue its military offensive until it eliminates Hamas.

At the start of a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu read aloud a letter that he said he had received from the families of fallen soldiers. He said they wrote, "You do not have a mandate to stop in the middle." Netanyahu declared, "We will continue to fight until the end."

The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it had struck a Hamas command center in the major city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. It also reported that it had gained control over parts of the city, including the central square.

Israeli forces claimed that they raided the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza and detained around 80 fighters. Israel said the hospital was used by Hamas as a command and control center.

But health authorities in Gaza called for an international investigation. They said wounded people and dead bodies were buried under the earth after the Israeli military destroyed the hospital with bulldozers.

Austin is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday.

The New York Times says Austin is expected to discuss a transition to a more focused phase of operations targeting Hamas leaders. He reportedly wants Israel to limit the number of civilian casualties.

Meanwhile, on Sunday Israel opened the Kerem Shalom crossing for the first time since the fighting started. It did so to allow humanitarian supplies to be transported into Gaza.

Before Sunday, trucks were only able to enter Gaza by going through the Rafah crossing.