Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says his forces will step up their offensive in southern Gaza with the goal of fully dismantling Hamas.

Gallant said on Friday that the operation in northern Gaza is gradually dismantling Hamas battalions and achieving denial of their underground capabilities. He said Israeli forces are also operating in the Khan Younis area, where senior Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is believed to be hiding.

Gallant said Sinwar now hears Israeli forces' vehicles above him and bombings by Israel's Air Force, adding that he will "meet our gunners soon."

Hamas issued a statement the same day that dismissed Gallant's claims as "an empty threat."

The Israeli military on Friday released footage of the inside of an underground tunnel purportedly filmed by a camera attached to a dog.

It said the tunnel stretched hundreds of meters and included command and communication rooms.

Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari told reporters that soldiers uncovered "significant underground terror infrastructure" in Gaza City and destroyed the entire tunnel.

He said Israeli forces will continue their operations against Hamas tunnels and ultimately make it impossible for the group to launch attacks against Israel from its tunnel network.