Israel launches attacks in and around the Khan Younis area, marking a violent new phase in the ongoing conflict

Israel has intensified its military actions in and around Khan Younis, Gaza’s second-largest city, early on Tuesday. Ambulances and private vehicles were seen rushing to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, bringing in many injured in this violent escalation of the war in Gaza.

The Israeli government, under pressure from the U.S. to avoid mass casualties, claims to have increased precision in its operations. This expansion into southern Gaza follows extensive damage inflicted in the north, displacing a significant portion of the 2.3 million residents.

The Nasser Hospital faced an influx of wounded throughout the night, including severely injured children. Amid the chaos, desperate pleas for help from international organizations like the Red Cross and the United Nations were heard.

Before this escalation, satellite images had shown a buildup of Israeli tanks and troops outside Khan Younis. Israel’s strategy has involved ordering evacuations from specific neighborhoods rather than entire regions, as was done in the north. However, the already crowded south, filled with U.N. shelters and family homes, offers little refuge for displaced people, and Israel has prevented those who fled the north from returning.

This conflict has been marked by Israel’s declared objective to dismantle Hamas’ military infrastructure and remove it from power, following an attack on October 7, where Hamas and other militants reportedly killed about 1,200 people and captured some 240 individuals. Israel accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields, complicating efforts to spare non-combatants in densely populated residential areas.

Despite weeks of intense bombardment, Hamas leaders in Gaza have continued complex ceasefire negotiations and orchestrated the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. They have also maintained rocket fire into Israel.

The conflict has resulted in unprecedented destruction in Gaza. According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, the death toll since October 7 has exceeded 15,890, with a significant percentage being women and children, and over 42,000 wounded. Israeli military figures corroborate these numbers, detailing the scale of the destruction.

The U.S. has offered unwavering support to Israel since the beginning of the conflict, supplying weapons and aid. Meanwhile, the Israeli offensive has dramatically altered the landscape in northern Gaza, driving hundreds of thousands to flee southward. With the collapse of a recent truce, Israeli military orders have further limited the living space for Palestinians.

In Khan Younis, the bombardment has been relentless, with Israeli strikes escalating dramatically. Evacuation orders have displaced a large portion of the population, adding to the crisis. As the situation worsens, communication networks in Gaza have experienced outages, complicating rescue and aid efforts.

Intense fighting continues in northern Gaza, particularly in densely populated areas such as the Jabaliya refugee camp and the Shijaiya district of Gaza City, areas that have been under heavy bombardment and seen significant battles.