Thursday marks exactly two months since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, which led to Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Fighting resumed last Friday following a seven-day truce. Ground offensives have been launched not only in northern Gaza, but in the south of the enclave.

The Israeli military disclosed late Wednesday that forces have advanced to central Khan Younis, a key city in the southern part of the strip, killing Hamas fighters and attacking mosques and other locations that served as weapons depots.

Israeli media have reported the Israeli military suspects that the Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, and other top officials could be hiding in underground tunnels in Khan Younis.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Wednesday that Israeli troops had surrounded Sinwar's home.

He said Sinwar can escape, but it's only a matter of time before Israeli forces get him.

Hamas responded by destroying Israeli armored vehicles in Khan Younis and neighboring areas. Its fighters also fired rockets toward Israel from Gaza.

Health authorities in Gaza say the death toll in the enclave since the start of the fighting totals 16,248, and that of them, 1,240 deaths have been confirmed since fighting resumed last Friday.

Israel says more than 1,200 people have been killed on its side.

Against this backdrop, Gaza residents are fleeing to Rafah in the south from war-torn Khan Younis and other areas, but since fighting resumed, humanitarian aid from Egypt has been cut back, resulting in shortages of fuel and water.

Meanwhile, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, or UNRWA, on Monday released a statement that says around 1.9 million people, or more than 80 percent of the population of Gaza, have been forced to flee their homes.

Israel is poised to continue its offensive to eliminate Hamas, while Hamas maintains it will not negotiate the release of hostages until the fighting stops.