RABAT, October 31. /TASS/. The Israeli army has set itself the task of separating the northern part of the Gaza Strip from its southern part, the Palestinian enclave's Interior Ministry told the Qatari Al Jazeera TV channel.

"The occupation forces (this is how the Israeli army is called in Gaza - TASS) are trying to separate the northern part of the Gaza Strip from its southern part," the Interior Ministry said.

According to the ministry, since the situation escalated on October 7, "the occupation forces have destroyed entire residential areas in the northwest of the Gaza Strip."

The ministry added that Israeli army vehicles are on the Salah al-Din Road in the Gaza Strip and are trying to reach the al-Rashid road (which runs along the coast of the enclave). In addition, Israeli army vehicles were seen in the al-Karama area (in the north of the Palestinian enclave).

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 when militants from the radical Palestinian Hamas movement staged a surprise attack on Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. Hamas described its attack as a response to the aggressive actions of Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem. Israel has announced a total blockade of the Gaza Strip as it has been delivering rocket attacks on Gaza as well as some districts in Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are underway in the West Bank of the Jordan River as well. On October 30, Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Daniel Hagari announced an "expansion of the scope" of the ground military operation in the Gaza Strip.