Israel said it recaptured an area from which it withdrew in the recent cease-fire, in the most significant ground operation since the truce with Hamas collapsed.

Hamas said that talks with mediators were ongoing on Thursday to halt the Israeli offensive on Gaza, which resumed two days ago, and to push Israel to abide by the ceasefire deal. Hamas reiterated its commitment to the deal that was signed in January.

Israel said it sent ground troops back into the center and south of the Gaza Strip, expanding a military operation that began with airstrikes a day earlier that Palestinian authorities said killed hundreds of people.