Israeli Attack on Khan Younis Displaces 180,000

KHAN YUNIS, Palestinian Territories: Recent Israeli military operations in Khan Yunis have displaced over 180,000 Palestinians within four days, according to the United Nations. This surge in displacement comes amid intensified hostilities in the southern Gaza city, part of an ongoing conflict that has lasted over nine months.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that about 182,000 people have been displaced from central and eastern Khan Yunis between Monday and Thursday, with hundreds stranded in eastern Khan Yunis. The Israeli military's operation aimed to extract bodies of captives and involved significant force, even in areas previously declared safe humanitarian zones.

Humanitarian Crisis

The displacement has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. Shortages of food, water, and medical supplies are critical, and fuel shortages continue to undermine humanitarian operations, impacting health, water, and food production facilities. The UN has highlighted that only a fraction of the necessary humanitarian supplies is reaching Gaza, further straining resources.

Casualties and Fighting

The Israeli military reported eliminating approximately 100 terrorists in Khan Yunis, while heavy battles continued, with 26 bodies brought to Nasser Hospital on Friday. Israel's military chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, stated that bodies of captives were recovered from underground tunnels and walls.

Overall Impact

Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory has reported at least 39,175 Palestinian deaths in Gaza. The October 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israel resulted in 1,197 Israeli deaths and the taking of 251 hostages, of which 111 remain held in Gaza, including 39 reported dead. The conflict has led to the displacement of nearly 1.9 million people in Gaza, with most of its 2.4 million residents displaced at least once.

For more detailed information, refer to UN News, The New Arab, and Al Jazeera.