JERUSALEM, June 2 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Monday that its troops had expanded ground operations in the Gaza Strip over the past day.
The move follows an order issued on Sunday by Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir to extend the ground offensive into additional areas in both the northern and southern parts of the strip.
According to the IDF, its troops killed militants and dismantled weapons storage facilities and infrastructure sites above and below ground.
In addition, the Israeli Air Force struck dozens of targets across the Gaza Strip since Sunday, "including terrorist cells, military structures belonging to the terror organizations in the Gaza Strip, tunnel routes, weapons storage facilities, and additional terrorist infrastructure sites," according to the statement.
The expansion of the fighting follows disagreements in indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas over the U.S. proposal for a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
