GAZA: In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Israeli troops have entered the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis, engaging in intense battles with Hamas. The incursion comes as part of Israel’s offensive across the besieged Gaza Strip.
Reports suggest that Israeli forces have penetrated Hamas’s defensive lines and conducted targeted raids in the heart of Khan Yunis. The military claims to have found and destroyed 30 tunnel shafts in the city. The offensive aims to confront Hamas and locate Yahya Sinwar, the chief of Hamas in Gaza, who is believed to be a mastermind behind the October 7 attacks on Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a video message that Israeli forces are closing in on Sinwar’s underground residence in the Khan Yunis area. Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, the leader of Hamas’s armed wing, are considered top military targets by Israel.
As the conflict intensifies, humanitarian organizations express concern about the impact on civilians who had already fled the northern Gaza Strip due to earlier warnings from Israel. With Khan Yunis now under attack, displaced residents are being pushed further south to Rafah, near the border with Egypt.
The toll from the conflict continues to rise, with the Hamas government reporting more than 16,000 people killed in Gaza, primarily civilians. Northern Gaza has already suffered extensive damage, displacing 1.9 million people, according to UN figures. The situation is now critical in Khan Yunis, with civilians facing renewed displacement.
The military campaign has triggered airstrikes in Rafah, resulting in civilian casualties. Residents, already traumatized by the conflict, find themselves with nowhere to go, facing displacement from Khan Yunis to Rafah.
Israel claims to have struck approximately 250 targets in Gaza in the past 24 hours, uncovering a significant arms depot in a civilian-populated area. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is exacerbated by shortages of essential supplies due to the Israeli siege.
The international community expresses growing concern over the deteriorating situation, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning of a potential breakdown of public order in Gaza. Efforts to secure a ceasefire face challenges, with both sides showing determination to achieve their military objectives.
As the conflict escalates, the toll on civilians continues to rise, raising urgent calls for a cessation of hostilities and a renewed focus on diplomatic efforts to address the underlying issues fueling the Israel-Hamas conflict.
