"The army has issued 16,000 additional mobilization orders to allow troops on the ground to rest, which takes the total number of reservists to 86,000," said the spokeswoman.

Israel's security cabinet, which met for five hours Wednesday, unanimously decided to pursue attacks against Gaza and other operations to destroy a network of tunnels used by the Hamas movement between Gaza and Israel, public radio said.

Another meeting of the cabinet, which comprises eight ministers, will be held Thursday afternoon, the radio added.

Public radio quoted Major General Sami Turgeman, the senior officer for the Gaza region, as saying that the destruction of militants' remaining tunnels into Israel could be complete "in a few days".

The Israeli military has confirmed three more deaths among its soldiers during an ongoing strike against the blockaded Gaza Strip on Wednesday.

The regime’s military said that Matan Gotlib, Omer Hay, and Guy Algranati were killed in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas said at least 15 Israeli soldiers were killed in a bomb attack east of Khan Yunis.

Hamas military wing Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said the Israelis were killed after 12 barrels of improvised explosive devices detonated in a house they were trapped.

Fifteen other soldiers were also injured after a wall collapsed on them during an operation.

While Tel Aviv confirms 56 Israelis have been killed in the war, Hamas sources put the number much higher.

NJF/NJF