IDF soldiers have reportedly taken a key Hamas base in a ten-hour battle that included “underground” fighting in which dozens of terrorists were killed.

The Israeli forces found a Hamas tunnel located near a kindergarten during the operation, as well as "significant" operational plans, the IDF said.

Troops from the 933rd Nahal Infantry Brigade overcame Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters at the site in northern Gaza, known as Outpost 17.

"The troops completed the takeover of the outpost after 10 hours of fighting, during which they eliminated terrorists, captured many weapons and uncovered terrorist tunnel shafts and leading to an extensive underground route," according to the IDF.

The IDF also killed the head of Hamas's anti-tank missile unit in central Gaza, the army announced on Thursday.

Ibrahim Abu Maasib directed and carried out many anti-tank attacks against Israelis and IDF soldiers.

An Israel Air Force fighter jet killed the terrorist using intelligence from the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the Military Intelligence Directorate (Aman).

The IDF also reported on Thursday that naval forces attacked a Hamas anti-tank missile launching position.

Israeli forces located a Hamas weapons production and storage facility in a residential building next to a children's bedroom, the IDF said.

The site for the production and storage of UAVs and weapons was discovered during searches in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood of Gaza City.

Explosive devices, explosives and operational plans were located next to a children's bedroom.

IDF Maj. (res.) Eliahou Benjamin Elmakayes, 29, from Jerusalem, was killed in action in central Gaza on Wednesday night, the military announced on Thursday.

Elmakayes served with the Combat Engineering Corps' 8219th Battalion, 551st Brigade.

More than 30 Israeli soldiers have died in Gaza since the start of the IDF ground operation on October 27, and more than 350 have died since the October 7 invasion of the north-western Negev.

Israel's Transportation Ministry will provide free flights within Israel for evacuees and the relatives of hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.

The planes will operate to and from Ramon Airport near Eilat and Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.

Thousands of residents of communities close to the Gaza Strip and Lebanon have been evacuated by the IDF to the Eilat, and also to the centre of the country.

More than 200,000 Israelis have been internally displaced by the war.