Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Thursday that more troops would join a ground operation in an area of the southern Gaza city of Rafah as military operations intensify in the city.

The operation in Rafah "will continue as additional forces will enter" the area, Gallant said in a statement while claiming that several tunnels in the area have been destroyed.

"This activity will intensify ... The result is that we are wearing Hamas down," he said.

(With input from agencies)