Israel killed a commander of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in an airstrike on southern Lebanon on Friday, further testing a ceasefire that halted last year's war between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Israel on Friday killed a commander of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in an airstrike on southern Lebanon, further testing a ceasefire that halted last year’s war between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Israel said it had scaled up a ground offensive in northern Gaza as part of an operation to extend so-called "security zones" that provide a protective buffer along the border with Israel.

The attack on the outskirts of Lebanon’s capital was the second in less than a week, raising fears that a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah could unravel.

Israeli forces have launched a ground offensive in Gaza City, the military said Friday, expanding their operations as rescuers reported at least 30 killed across the Palestinian territory since dawn.Since renewed military operations last month ended a short-lived truce in its war with Hamas,

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the pressure on Gaza would increase until the remaining hostages were returned to Israel. “The more they do not give (back the hostages), the more the pressure will increase until they do,” vowed the Israeli Prime Minster in a video statement released on Wednesday.

The toll from Gaza’s Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Experts say it is probably an undercount.

Israel’s army said it hit a Hezbollah drone storage facility in Dahiyeh, which it called a militant stronghold.