Israeli air strikes and a ground operation in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least 51 individuals, as reported by Gaza’s health ministry.
On Tuesday night, tanks advanced into parts of the southern city, with residents experiencing intense gunfire and heavy shelling. One villager who was injured recounted the harrowing experience, stating that “tanks stormed in” unexpectedly.
In a separate incident, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced air strikes that targeted Hamas positions situated within two schools in central and northern Gaza overnight. The IDF emphasized that the targets were Hamas members operating from locations previously used as educational facilities. Palestinian media reported that at least nine civilians lost their lives during these strikes.
Israel’s military actions continue amid heightened tensions, having recently fended off missile attacks from Iran and initiating a limited operation against Hezbollah sites in Lebanon on the same day.
Details regarding the strikes in southern Gaza, which reportedly happened at dawn on Wednesday, remain unconfirmed by the IDF. A resident from Qizan an-Najjar village, southeast of Khan Younis, revealed that some of his family members were killed in the assault, describing how “tanks stormed into the area, accompanied by quadcopters that directly targeted us.”
Witnesses at Nasser Hospital echoed similar sentiments of chaos and destruction, recounting the sudden onslaught of shells from planes and tanks. One individual shared his traumatic experience, stating, “There was no prior warning… I barely survived; my daughter is injured, and my wife has a head injury that may lead to vision loss.” Reports indicate that Israeli forces have also “completely destroyed” a home sheltering displaced families.
The health ministry has issued a grave warning that the death toll could increase further, with an additional 82 individuals reported injured in the recent strikes.
Tensions in the region trace back to an attack by Hamas gunmen on October 7 last year, which claimed approximately 1,200 lives and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages. In retaliation, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, with the casualty count reportedly reaching 41,689 according to health ministry statistics.
Khan Younis, recognized as Gaza’s second-largest urban area, has faced multiple direct attacks from the IDF, including significant ground operations in August and July 2024, and sustained heavy bombardment during the initial months of the war in December 2023.
