According to the British public service company BBC's employees in Gaza, Israeli tanks and military vehicles are rolling into the city. At the same time, there are also reports of heavy shelling and in at least two areas of the city, bombs are falling.
Over Gaza City, the bombs continue to fall. On social media, smoke can be seen rising from a residential building after an Israeli attack.
Hostages are believed to be in Dayr al-Balah
Israeli sources have said that the reason the army has so far stayed away from Dayr al-Balah is that they suspect Hamas may be holding hostages there. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages who are captured in Gaza are believed to still be alive.
The extensive attack comes the day after at least 85 people were killed in connection with the distribution of emergency aid, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority.
The UN's food program (WFP) says that the majority of those killed on Sunday had gathered near the fence against Israel in the hope of getting flour from an aid convoy when they were shot at by Israeli tanks and snipers.
Israel's military questions the death toll, but says that warning shots were fired to "avert an immediate threat" when thousands gathered at an aid distribution near Gaza City.
Nearly 60,000 dead
On Monday, the Hamas-controlled health authority announced that the number of dead since the war began now exceeds 59,000 people.
Deaths among civilians seeking help are recurring in Gaza recently. The UN previously stated in July that nearly 800 people had been killed since the end of May while trying to get food.
On Monday, Israel's military also carried out air strikes against the Yemeni port of Hodeida, which belongs to the Iran-backed Houthi movement.
Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military attacked "terror targets" belonging to the Houthi rebels. A spokesperson for the Houthi movement confirmed that the port had been attacked.
