Israeli Army Intensifies Military Operations in Khan Younis – New Escalation in the Gaza Strip

After the previous withdrawal of Israeli troops from Khan Younis in the spring, they are now returning to the southern Gaza city. This suggests that Israeli commanders perceive a renewed threat from Hamas. The army reported on Tuesday that it was combating terrorists through tank and air strikes. Simultaneously, it reported a projectile fired by Hamas that hit a school in the central Gaza region of Nuseirat. Whether there were any casualties remained unconfirmed, as was the report from UNRWA that had no information about the incident. On Monday, the military had already ordered the evacuation of parts of Khan Younis. Videos and photos showed frightened people seeking safety on foot. According to UNRWA, more than 150,000 people had left the city by Monday afternoon, based on information from the charity organization Alwaleed Philanthropies. Israel had established a humanitarian zone west of the city around Al Mawasi to support the civilian population. However, on Monday, the military announced its reduction, citing missile launches by Hamas fighters from that area. This also could not be independently verified. Hamas fighters, who operate in urban areas and live among civilians, often use urban structures to conceal their activities. Juliette Touma, Communications Director of UNRWA, stated that people in Gaza find safety nowhere, as no place is safe anymore. The recurring mass movements of the civilian population exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. The situation is particularly precarious at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. The Gaza Ministry of Health announced that 70 bodies and 200 injured people were brought there on Monday. These figures, however, cannot be independently verified. Javid Abdelmoneim, a member of the medical team of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), expressed in an emotional video on social media that the hospital staff are overwhelmed by the medical situation and diminishing blood supplies. He warned that the hospital might soon have to close.