Khan Younis Encircled by IDF; Hospital Exodus Unfolds

Israeli forces have encircled the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza amid escalating military actions. This situation has caused widespread panic among hundreds of displaced individuals currently sheltering on the grounds of local hospitals.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reports a state of alarm among people at its headquarters and at Al-Amal Hospital due to the ongoing Israeli bombardment. As the intense Israeli military offensive in the western part of Khan Younis continues, it is expected to last for several more days, based on information from a knowledgeable source.

Israel, meanwhile, is grappling with the loss of at least 21 soldiers in Gaza, marking the most significant single-day casualty count for Israeli troops in the territory since the conflict with Hamas began.

Recent developments include:

– **Khan Younis Assault**: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) report that their ground troops, in coordination with the Israeli air force, have killed “dozens of terrorists” in the past 24 hours in and around Khan Younis. This military operation has severely affected the city’s medical facilities.
– **Escaping Conflict**: Residents like Ahmad Nassem from Khan Younis’s Al-Amal neighborhood are attempting to evacuate amidst intense fighting. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza warns that both Al-Amal and Nasser hospitals are facing grave threats, with building structures at risk due to ongoing shelling.
– **Israeli Military Losses**: The IDF confirmed the death of at least 21 soldiers following an incident where a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) struck a tank protecting Israeli forces, leading to the collapse of two nearby buildings. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the day of the incident as “one of the most difficult days” since the war began and announced an IDF investigation into the event.
– **Action Against Houthis**: Following further strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen by the United States and the United Kingdom, the Houthi rebel group has warned of retaliation. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated the joint efforts to diminish the Houthis’ military capabilities would persist, as disruptions in the Red Sea navigation continue.
– **Ceasefire Negotiations**: Israel has reportedly proposed allowing senior Hamas leaders to leave Gaza as part of a potential ceasefire agreement. Axios also reported that Israel offered a two-month ceasefire in a prospective hostage deal. However, an Israeli official clarified to CNN that any ceasefire-for-hostages offer is still not a concrete proposal.
– **Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis**: The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food has accused Israel of destroying Gaza’s food system, causing widespread hunger. Additionally, environmental conditions in the southern city of Rafah are deteriorating, with piles of solid waste, flowing sewage, and air pollution creating severe health risks.