Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip have intensified their attacks in Khan Younis for the third consecutive day. This area in the southern region of Gaza has become a stronghold for the Islamist group Hamas, and the ongoing combat is increasingly cornering the local civilian population.
The Israeli Army stated that due to significant terrorist activity and rocket fire from Khan Younis towards Israel, their troops are conducting intelligence-based operations in the region. They reported that their forces eliminated suspected militants using sniper fire.
In the vicinity of Bani Suheila, located east of Khan Younis, Israeli troops identified a terrorist cell approaching in a vehicle. A combined aerial and ground attack led to the elimination of all individuals inside the vehicle.
Israeli forces have also been involved in the destruction of residential buildings in Al Qarara, northeast of Khan Younis. Military vehicles opened fire on homes in Bani Suheila amidst artillery shelling and airstrikes, as reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
Additionally, tanks and military vehicles targeted a humanitarian relief truck from the Central World Kitchen Foundation in Khan Younis, injuring its driver, Qatada Abu Jamea. This incident follows a similar event in April when Israeli airstrikes killed seven members of this organization.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has condemned the systematic obstruction faced by humanitarian organizations, along with direct attacks on their facilities, staff, and distribution points by Israel. This makes it increasingly difficult to provide aid to civilians in need. The NRC highlighted that as a result of Israeli restrictions and the disruption of public order, they have not received any supplies in their warehouse since May 3.
Israeli forces had withdrawn from Khan Younis in April following a four-month operation. At the time, the chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, claimed that Hamas’s military wing had been “deterred” after losing most of its military capabilities. Currently, Israel accuses the group of launching numerous rockets from the region and believes that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar may be hiding in tunnels beneath the area. Sinwar is allegedly responsible for the October 7 attack that instigated the recent conflict.
In response to the situation, Israel mandated the evacuation of eastern Khan Younis, instructing residents seeking refuge to move to the increasingly restricted humanitarian area of Mawasi. This led to the forced displacement of approximately 150,000 Palestinians, who fled with only what they could carry, according to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.
The rapid evacuation orders issued by the Israeli Army, communicated through flyers before airstrikes, pose significant risks to civilian lives. Meanwhile, the military conducted “targeted raids” in Rafah, at the southern edge of the Gaza Strip near Egypt, claiming to have located weapons and eliminated terrorists who posed a threat to their troops. In the past 24 hours, the Israeli Army reported attacks on “dozens of terrorist targets” across the Gaza Strip, leading to at least five Palestinian deaths and many injuries from bombings in Jabalia, northern Gaza.
The conflict erupted on October 7 after a Hamas attack on Israel, resulting in around 1,200 deaths and 251 kidnappings. Since then, Israeli forces have consistently targeted the already devastated Gaza Strip, where more than 39,090 people have reportedly died, with 90,000 wounded, 10,000 missing under debris, and 1.9 million displaced individuals enduring an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2024/07/24/israel-continua-su-ofensiva-sobre-la-devastada-franja-de-gaza-haciendo-foco-en-jan-yunis/
