'Fierce battles' reported in Gaza as Israel expands incursions

Sources on both the Palestinian and Israeli side said on Tuesday that clashes were ongoing on the ground in Gaza with at least three main fronts seeing fighting in the coastal enclave.

The Israeli army described the clashes as "fierce battle" and said they were taking place mostly in the northwest of Gaza, according Al Jazeera and other media.

Israeli tanks have previously been seen to advance into open agricultural land in the northwestern, northeastern and eastern sectors of the territory.

There are no reports of an Israeli military presence in residential areas, as of yet.

Hamas said it was targeting Israeli armour with mortars and shoulder-fired anti-tank missiles in addition to small arms clashes with Israeli troops.

The Palestinian armed group says it has hit Israeli tanks and killed soldiers but Israel has made no comment on casualties.

Israel also claims to have killed "dozens" of Palestinian fighters but there has also been no comment from Hamas on the claims.