JERUSALEM

The Israeli army announced Sunday that it has completed a blockade of Gaza City and divided the Gaza Strip into two sections, calling on residents to move south.

“The army, under the command of the Golani Brigade, has completed the blockade of Gaza City and reached its coast,” spokesman Daniel Hagari said at a press conference, adding the move is “extremely important to pressure Hamas.”

Hagari said the army has also divided the Gaza Strip into “two sections -- north and south.”

He again called on Gazans to move south, saying, “we have already intensified the attacks tonight in a very effective manner.”

Since Tuesday, the Israeli army has announced in multiple statements that fierce battles are taking place inside the Gaza Strip following incursions from multiple axes.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala