Israeli forces are continuing their attacks in the Gaza Strip, including the southern city of Khan Younis which they say is a key Hamas stronghold.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters on Saturday, "Our fighters completed the encirclement of Khan Younis. They also eliminated hundreds of terrorists, and destroyed terrorist infrastructure above and below ground."

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal quoted US and Israeli sources as saying as much as 80 percent of Hamas's vast warren of tunnels under Gaza remains intact after weeks of Israeli efforts to destroy them.

Health authorities in Gaza said on Saturday that 26,422 people have been killed in the Israeli attacks, and hunger and diseases are spreading among evacuees.