Tel Aviv/Gaza City. Israel has announced that its forces are currently engaged in operations within Gaza City, the second-largest city in the Gaza Strip. This escalation in military activity has resulted in increased bombardment of the southern half of the territory. Tanks have been positioned on the outskirts of Khan Younis, and a commander has described the ongoing fighting as the most intense since ground operations commenced against Hamas. Concurrently, the United Nations has issued a warning, stating that the Gaza Strip is on the brink of a devastating situation as airstrikes continue to pound the area. The residents of Khan Younis are living in fear, as expressed by Joumana Hussein, a 24-year-old resident, who described the overwhelming noise of warplanes and drones. General Yaron Finkelman, the commander of the Israeli army's southern command, has also acknowledged the heightened intensity of the current day's operations.
Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the top military commander of Israel, stated that the southern city is currently being surrounded by Israeli forces. The chief of general staff mentioned that after sixty days since the war began, their forces have successfully encircled the Khan Younis area in the southern Gaza Strip. According to the residents, tanks crossed the Israel border fence and were observed on the eastern outskirts of Khan Younis. In order to ensure the safety of the road leading out of the city, the Israeli military has taken measures and informed the residents that it now serves as a battlefield. Additionally, Israeli forces have continued their strikes in the northern part of the strip, which was the primary focus before their movement towards the south. The Israeli military reported launching an attack into the core of the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. They also mentioned that paratroopers and navy commandos conducted a raid on the Hamas general security headquarters in Jabalia and were engaged in combat in the Shijaiya district of Gaza City. Gen Finkelman emphasized that they are currently present in the heart of Jabalia, the heart of Shijaiya, and now also in the heart of Khan Younis.
Israeli forces have issued new instructions to residents of Khan Younis, urging them to remain in shelters during the ongoing assault. The leaflets, distributed after days of ordering residents to evacuate, stated that the Israeli military would soon launch a concentrated attack on the area to dismantle the terrorist organization Hamas. The leaflets specifically addressed residents of six districts in the eastern and northern parts of Khan Younis, which make up approximately a quarter of the city. The message emphasized the importance of staying inside shelters and hospitals for safety, warning against venturing outside due to the inherent dangers. Despite the warnings, thousands of residents have already fled, making the arduous journey on foot to the nearby city of Rafah, carrying their belongings with them. The Israeli military has designated certain parts of Rafah as "safe zones." However, even in these areas, there are reports of ongoing bombings, creating a sense of insecurity for those seeking refuge. Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza (Unrwa), reiterated that no place in Gaza can be considered truly safe, whether it is in the south, southwest, Rafah, or any other so-called "safe zone" unilaterally declared by the Israeli forces.
According to James Elder, the spokesperson for the UN children's agency Unicef, the "safe zones" established by the Israeli military can be described as small patches of desolate land or street corners. These areas lack basic necessities such as water, facilities, and shelter from harsh weather conditions. Richard Peeperkorn, the representative of the World Health Organization in Gaza, further emphasizes the dire situation, stating that there is a lack of sanitation and the conditions are deteriorating rapidly. The ongoing bombings, including in southern areas like Khan Younis and Rafah, have forced many residents to flee their homes. This adds to the already significant number of 1.8 million Gazan residents, which accounts for 80% of the territory's population, who have been displaced since October 7th. This mass displacement was triggered by a Hamas attack in Israel that resulted in the death of 1,200 people and the abduction of approximately 240 individuals who were later transported to Gaza.
In response, Israel initiated a bombing campaign that has resulted in the deaths of nearly 16,000 individuals, according to health officials in Hamas-controlled Gaza. This aerial bombardment has been accompanied by a blockade, causing a scarcity of essential resources such as food, water, fuel, and medical supplies. The only relief experienced was during a temporary ceasefire, lasting for a week, which facilitated the release of more than 100 hostages in exchange for over 200 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. This ceasefire, which concluded last Friday, also permitted the entry of additional aid into Gaza and provided some respite for the residents from the relentless bombardment. On Tuesday, Qatar's emir expressed his country's determination to achieve a comprehensive end to the conflict in Gaza and to mend the collapsed truce agreement between Israel and Hamas. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani emphasized that while efforts are being made to renew the truce and alleviate the suffering of the people in the Gaza Strip, truces alone cannot serve as a substitute for a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire.
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