GAZA: Israeli forces are currently engaged in intense combat in southern Gaza, encircling the main city of Khan Yunis. The focus of the conflict has shifted to the southern region after extensive fighting and bombardment severely affected the northern areas, leading to a mass exodus of nearly two million people from their homes.
The Israeli army, comprising tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and bulldozers, has reportedly secured many Hamas strongholds in the northern Gaza Strip and is now targeting strongholds in the south. The recent clashes on Tuesday were described by the army’s Southern Command chief as the most intense day since the beginning of the ground operation in late October.
The conflict escalated after Hamas’s October 7 attacks, resulting in Israeli authorities declaring war, claiming the lives of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 240 hostages. According to the latest figures from the Hamas-run government media office, 16,248 people, mostly women and children, have been reported dead in Gaza.
In response to the encirclement, displaced civilians in Khan Yunis are forced to evacuate once again. The situation has prompted international aid groups to condemn the successive orders to flee, highlighting the diminishing options for civilians in Gaza to find safe havens.
The UN has criticized Israel’s attempt to create safe zones, stating that the so-called safe zones are not scientifically, rationally, or logistically feasible. The ongoing violence in Gaza is now considered one of the worst assaults on any civilian population in recent history, with dire warnings about the approaching winter and its potential public health consequences.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, expressed concerns about the panic, fear, and anxiety among people being pushed into a smaller area in southern Gaza. With approximately 1.9 million people displaced, representing three-quarters of the population, the situation is becoming increasingly dire.
As the conflict unfolds, the international community, including the United States, Israel’s key ally, has called for efforts to prevent civilian deaths in Gaza.
The war has sparked fears of a wider regional conflict, with exchanges of fire reported between Israel and Hezbollah across the border with Lebanon. Additionally, there has been a surge in violence in the occupied West Bank.
The situation remains fluid and complex, with ongoing diplomatic efforts to renew truces and address the humanitarian crisis in the region. The consequences of the conflict extend beyond immediate casualties, affecting the lives and well-being of millions caught in the crossfire.
