TEL AVIV, December 5. /TASS/. The IDF has commenced the third face of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip and currently surrounds the area of Khan Yunis - the largest city in the southern part of the enclave, says Herzi Halevi, Chief of the General Staff of Israel.

"After 60 days of war, our forces now surround the Khan Yunis area in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Simultaneously, we continue to cement our achievements in the northern part of the Gaza Strip," he said.

"We have commenced the third phase of the ground operation. We have captured many Hamas strongholds in the northern part of Gaza, and now we act against their strongholds in the south," Halevi added.

The head of the General Staff noted that the IDF promptly resumed the hostilities in the enclave immediately after the end of the humanitarian pause, which was used for release of several groups of hostages held in the Gaza Strip.

"Those who thought that the IDF won’t know how to resume the fighting after the pause were wrong, and Hamas already feels it. Many Hamas militants, including senior commanders, have been destroyed in the recent days," he said.

The situation in the Middle East has escalated abruptly after an armed infiltration of HAMAS militants from the Gaza Strip into Israel. The HAMAS movement considers this attack a response to the actions of Israeli authorities towards the Al Aqsa Mosque at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Israel announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip and started carrying out strikes on the enclave and certain areas in Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also taking place in the West Bank.