Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that the country's war cabinet and political cabinet "unanimously decided to expand the ground operation" in the Gaza Strip. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip endured the heaviest air strikes of the conflict overnight since the clash began three weeks ago.

The health authorities in Gaza said early on Sunday that more than 8,000 people had been killed in the Palestinian territory since the start of the conflict on October 7, while at least 1,400 Israelis were killed in the "deadliest" day of the nation's 75-year history, according to Israeli authorities.

The UN Security Council will meet on Monday after Israel's expanded ground operations in Gaza began.

Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said on Saturday it is ready to hold talks with Israel over hostages.