Fighting in Gaza’s second-largest city, Khan Younis, has intensified as Israeli air strikes persist, causing Palestinians to seek refuge in increasingly crowded areas in the southern part of the territory. The war, now entering its third month, has resulted in a devastating carpet bombardment of entire neighborhoods and residential blocks, according to reports. Despite Israeli army orders to move to Rafah for safety, residential homes were destroyed, confirming the fears that there is no secure place in the Gaza Strip.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has reported alarming levels of hunger in northern Gaza, with 97 percent of households experiencing inadequate food consumption. Additionally, one-third of households in the southern governorates have reported severe or very severe hunger. Palestinians in Gaza are lacking essential resources for survival, creating a dire humanitarian situation.
Amidst the offensive in the south, Israeli armed forces have targeted refugee camps, including the Jabalia and al-Maghazi camps, resulting in significant casualties. Journalist Momin Alshrafi lost 22 relatives, including immediate family members, due to an attack in Jabalia. The collapse of the health sector in Gaza has further exacerbated the crisis, with 60 percent of the wounded requiring urgent medical treatment abroad.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently conveyed to Israeli officials that the Biden administration believes the war should end within weeks, not months. Israeli officials expressed an interest in returning to normalcy for economic stability but did not provide any guarantees. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested the possibility of indefinitely occupying parts of the Gaza Strip to create a “buffer zone,” a move that could strain relations with regional allies and the United States.
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the alleged surrounding of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s house in Khan Younis. Netanyahu claimed that Israeli troops had encircled Sinwar’s house, but a military spokesperson later clarified that Sinwar’s home encompasses the entire Khan Younis area, without specifying a particular location. Sinwar, along with Mohammed Deif and Marwan Issa, are among Israel’s most-wanted individuals, associated with Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades.
The escalating violence and humanitarian catastrophe in Khan Younis have led to mounting casualties and severe implications for the Gaza Strip. Efforts to end the conflict and restore stability remain uncertain, with both Israeli and international actors grappling with the complex dynamics of the situation.
