combat zone

"Israel will not allow vessels to enter an active combat zone and will not allow the breach of a lawful naval blockade," it warned.

Previously the defence minister Israel Katz said, "forces are operating in all combat zones day and night for the security of Israel".

In recent days, the Israeli military has intensified air and ground assaults on the outskirts of Gaza City, which it has said is a Hamas stronghold and declared a "dangerous combat zone".

Defence Minister Israel Katz posted on X on Thursday that "forces are operating in all combat zones day and night for the security of Israel".

The IDF said the military would prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the "civilian population outside the combat zones".