Israel’s military has moved all of its regular infantry and tank brigades into the Gaza Strip, the Times of Israel and other local media reported on Sunday, citing the army.

The military said it would not provide further details on the deployment of its forces, in response to a dpa inquiry.

The Times of Israel report said the army is preparing to intensify its offensive in Gaza.

Television station N12 also reported that the Israeli offensive was continuing, saying the armed forces are deployed in different areas of the embattled Palestinian territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently announced plans to take control of the whole of the Gaza Strip, and the Israeli armed forces launched a new major offensive in Gaza around a week ago.

At the start of the offensive, the army said it wanted to achieve Israel’s war aims, including the release of hostages and the destruction of the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas.

Israel’s actions in the sealed-off territory are drawing mounting international criticism – even by close allies.

The war in Gaza has claimed more than 53,000 Palestinian lives, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.