The Israeli army will concentrate its operations in Gaza City, in the north of the Palestinian territory, to "decisively" strike the Palestinian terrorist movement Hamas, the chief of staff announced on Sunday.

"Today we approved the plan for the next phase of the war," Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir was quoted as saying in an army statement during a visit to the Gaza Strip.

"We will maintain the momentum of the large-scale operation" announced by the army in the Palestinian enclave in mid-May, the military leader said of the new operation in the largest city in the territory, which Israel considers one of the last bastions of the Islamist group.

Taking control of all of Gaza, Israel goal

"We will continue attacking until Hamas is decisively defeated, always keeping the hostages at the forefront of our concerns," he threatened.

The plan for an expanded offensive, approved by the security cabinet Israeli earlier this month, envisions capturing Gaza City and central refugee camps to dismantle Hamas's remaining strongholds in the war-torn Palestinian territory.

The goal is to take control of the entire Gaza Strip, which could require the relocation of approximately 1 million Palestinians currently there.