In their continuing coverage, of the conflict between Israel and Hamas along the Gaza Strip, the Associated Press reported on the recent Israeli operation within Khan Younis and other areas.
The city of Khan Younis is one of the largest cities within the Gaza Strip and it's also the location of Nasser Hospital which is one the largest and still functioning hospitals.
It's also the home to 88,000 Palestinians and is also hosting 450,000 civilians who have been displaced from their areas due to the conflict according to the UN. Before their operation began Israel had ordered civilians to leave a large strip of land within Khan Younis. Many have fled to the town of Rafah which borders Egypt however the area is seemingly ripe with overcrowdedness as the UN has reported that 1.5 million people are packed into shelters and tents. According to the report, 1.5 million equates to about two-thirds of Gaza's overall population. Even then, civilians have seen little relief from the conflict as Israel continues to conduct strikes within and surrounding the town.
However, the relief group Doctors Without Borders has stated that fleeing isn't a viable option for many. The staff has reported being trapped within Nasser Hospital with 850 patients and thousands of displaced individuals due to roads being either inaccessible or simply too dangerous for travel. The Gaza Health Ministry has also stated that the facility had been isolated.
Postwar Plans
On the Israeli side of this conflict, Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has recently reiterated that their overall military goals are to achieve victory and the return of the hundreds of hostages even after many were released after a brief cease-fire in November last year. Netanyahu has also rejected postwar plans from the United States and other countries that would allow for the eventual creation of a Palestinian state. According to the AP report, the UN's Palestinian refugee agency states that 1.7 million individuals have been displaced and many have fled from the Northern area of the territory which has been decimated by air and ground operations leading to many questioning where these individuals will go once this conflict concludes.
