Israeli forces engaged in a fierce confrontation with Palestinian militants near a prominent hospital in Gaza's second-largest city.
Medics reported that the intense fighting had left hundreds of patients and thousands of displaced individuals stranded and unable to seek refuge.
Heavy Fighting Near Khan Younis Hospital Leaves Hundreds Stranded
Residents in downtown Khan Younis have been ordered to evacuate the area, which includes Nasser Hospital and two smaller medical facilities. Israel is continuing its offensive against Hamas, which has been ongoing for the past three months.
According to the United Nations humanitarian office, the region is currently inhabited by 88,000 Palestinians, with an additional 425,000 individuals seeking refuge due to conflicts in other areas.
However, according to the aid group Doctors Without Borders, escaping was not a viable choice for numerous individuals. The organization mentioned that their personnel and a large number of individuals, including patients and displaced individuals, were unable to leave Nasser due to the inaccessibility and dangerous conditions of the surrounding roads.
According to the group, the hospital is one of the last two remaining in southern Gaza that can provide treatment for critically ill patients. The Health Ministry in Gaza has reported that the facility has been placed in isolation.The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has expressed his determination to continue the offensive until achieving what he calls "complete victory" against Hamas.
The conflict began when Hamas launched an attack across the border on October 7, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in Israel and the abduction of another 250 individuals.The Israeli military has engaged in intense combat with armed groups within the city, following their strategic encirclement of the area the previous day. Aircraft have been carrying out strikes on targets as part of ongoing operations in the area, including suspected militants in central and northern Gaza.
Per AP News, a large number of individuals evacuated from Khan Younis and headed towards the town of Rafah on Tuesday. According to the UN, approximately 1.5 million individuals, comprising about two-thirds of Gaza's population, are currently residing in shelters and tent camps located in and around Rafah, situated along the border with Egypt.
Even in that location, Palestinians have struggled to find safety, as Israel frequently conducts strikes in and around the town. According to accounts from Palestinian witnesses, Israeli soldiers and tanks have recently entered certain areas of Muwasi, a sandy region along the coast that Israel had designated as a safe zone. In this area, tens of thousands of people were residing in tents without access to basic services.
In a statement released on Wednesday morning, the IDF announced that its 98th Division is currently engaged in a significant offensive operation against Hamas in the Khan Younis area.
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IDF Claims Operation Aims to Intensify Pressure on Hamas
The IDF emphasized that this operation is aimed at intensifying the pressure on Hamas and neutralizing numerous terror cells through the use of sniper fire, tank shelling, and airstrikes.
According to the Gaza health ministry, there have been 210 fatalities in the past 24 hours in the Strip, while the IDF reports ongoing operations against armed Hamas militants and "terror cells." Israel has been accused by Palestinian officials of surrounding two hospitals in the city, which has resulted in patients being unable to access the facilities.
The IDF did not provide an immediate response to the claim. However, it has consistently accused Hamas of using hospitals as command centers and holding hostages within them. According to the military, troops from its Commando Brigade conducted raids on Hamas sites in the Khan Younis camp.
Throughout the operation, they came across multiple operatives, including squads that were in the midst of preparing to fire anti-tank missiles. Amidst the ongoing operations in Khan Younis, the IDF has shared updates on the recent airstrikes carried out by the Givati Brigade. These airstrikes targeted two groups of Hamas gunmen.
Additionally, the 7th Armored Brigade carried out raids on multiple Hamas sites, resulting in the elimination of several operatives and the confiscation of weapons belonging to the terror group. The Paratroopers Brigade also successfully neutralized a significant number of terrorists through a series of targeted attacks, The Times of Israel reported.
