Israel Defense Forces are still attacking Khan Younis, a city in the southern Gaza Strip. The Israeli government said that their attacks aim to increase pressure on Hamas terrorists.
However, Palestinian civilians are the ones mostly affected by IDF's intensifying military operations in Khan Younis. The United Nations humanitarian office said that Khan Younis is home to over 88,000 Palestinians.
Since IDF troops are continuously attacking the southern Gaza Strip city, many Palestinians now want to evacuate from Khan Younis. However, they are allegedly being prevented by snipers.
Gaza Khan Younis Update: Reporter Claims Snipers Shoot Palestinians
According to The Guardian's latest report, Hani Mahmoud, a journalist working for the Qatari state-owned news organization, claims that snipers are surrounding the al-Amala hospital in Khan Younis.
He said that the Palestinian hospital has been under siege for the past few days. Because of this, the medical facility went completely out of service.
But, Mahmoud said that it was shocking to learn that snipers are surrounding the vicinity of the Khan Younis-based hospital. He added that the hospital's buildings currently accommodate hundreds of displaced Palestinian civilians.
"They're being shot if they try to leave the buildings," said the reporter.
Hani Mahmoud didn't confirm if the snipers were from the Israel Defense Forces. As of writing, his report hasn't been independently verified by other sources.
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IDF started sending more soldiers to the city of Khan Younis after it suffered its largest single-day toll in the three-month Israel-Hamas war.
Israeli officials confirmed that 24 of its soldiers were killed in the southern Gaza Strip. After that, IDF forces started encircling the city.
"Over the past day, troops carried out an extensive operation during which they encircled Khan Younis and deepened the operation in the area," said IDF.
But, the U.S. State Department and the World Health Organization are condemning the attacks in Khan Younis, especially after a United Nations facility was bombarded.
NBC News reported that two tank shells struck the UN Khan Younis Training Center, which shelters over 800 people. This was confirmed by the UNRWA Affairs Director in Gaza, Thomas White.
"We deplore today's attack on the U.N.'s Khan Younis Training Center," said U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel.
"You've heard me say it before, you've heard the secretary say it before, but civilians must be protected, and the protected nature of U.N. facilities must be respected," he added.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also condemned the attacks in Khan Younis, saying that the heaving military attacks, which are killing civilians, as well as the evacuation orders, are just "horrendous."
