Israeli forces have neared the center of Gaza City, as Hamas fighters reportedly regroup amid fears of intense street-to-street fighting.
Thousands of Palestinians have been forced to flee the city since Israel launched its ground offensive last week.
Israel describes the city as the last stronghold of Hamas and says its aim is to eliminate terrorists and rescue its 48 remaining hostages, 20 of whom are thought to be alive.
The BBC has verified footage of an Israeli tank at Hamid Junction, around 1.5km (0.9 miles) from the central al-Shifa hospital; Israeli armored vehicles were also reportedly seen close to the main UN compound in southern Gaza City, about 700m (2297ft) from the center.
The BBC has spoken to a Hamas figure who claims the militant group is willing to call thousands of fighters into the city, raising the fear of intense fighting in dense urban areas where thousands of civilians remain.
He said that Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the group's military commander, has ordered all available fighters across the Strip to converge on the city, telling them to prepare for a final, decisive battle.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) estimated last week that up to 3,000 Hamas fighters were in the city. The Hamas figure claimed they had 5,000 fighters and threatened suicide attacks, though that has not been a tactic Hamas has used widely in this recent conflict. The BBC cannot independently verify these figures and Hamas has not officially commented.
As international journalists are banned from independent entry into Gaza, verifying claims from both sides presents challenges.
Israel has been trying to destroy tunnels in Gaza to prevent militants from using them for attacks. But a Hamas militant claimed that some remained intact and that the group had learned from Israel's successes in previous operations.
A previous military chief of Hamas advised the militant group to employ guerrilla tactics to mitigate losses.
Reports indicate that during the conflict, Israel conducts rapid military thrusts into urban areas, often withdrawing quickly.
Intensive Israeli military operations have also involved the use of damaged armored vehicles equipped with explosives and quadcopter drones meant to warn civilians of impending attacks.
Humanitarian issues are dire as at least 640,000 people are estimated to have fled the area since mid-August, with many families struggling with transportation costs and forced to abandon belongings.
Those remaining in Gaza City face ongoing bombardment, severe shortages of food and water, and a deteriorating health care system.
Since the Israeli military launched its campaign in response to a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, more than 65,419 people have been reported killed in Gaza, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
