Israel Ends Month-Long Operation in South and Central Gaza

The Israeli military announced on Friday that it had concluded a month-long operation in southern and central Gaza, claiming to have killed over 250 Palestinian fighters during the mission.

In a statement, the military said, “The troops of the 98th Division have completed their divisional operation in the Khan Yunis and Deir el-Balah area, following approximately a month of above and underground operational activities.” The statement further noted, “As part of the operation, the troops eliminated more than 250 terrorists and dismantled dozens of terrorist infrastructures.”

A military spokesperson confirmed to AFP that no further operations were currently underway in those areas.

Residents returning to Khan Yunis reported finding extensive destruction in the city’s southern region of the Gaza Strip. Amal al-Astal, 48, described finding homes demolished and bodies decaying in the open. “We found our house destroyed along with our neighbors’. One of our neighbors’ bodies was decomposing there,” Astal said. “Upon entering, we were met with tragic scenes, and the neighborhood was unrecognizable.”

Earlier this week, Palestinians returning to parts of Deir el-Balah reported witnessing similar devastation.

The conflict in Gaza began after Hamas launched an attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,199 people, primarily civilians, according to Israeli official figures reported by AFP. In response, Israel’s military campaign has led to the deaths of at least 40,602 people in Gaza, as reported by the territory’s health ministry. The United Nations human rights office has stated that the majority of those killed are women and children.