Israeli Airstrikes on Khan Younis Leave at Least 38 Dead, Gaza Officials Report

Israeli Airstrikes on Khan Younis

Israeli airstrikes on Khan Younis left at least 38 people dead last night, confirmed by Gaza officials report. It was due to a nighttime raid by the Israeli military on a hospital in north Gaza. 

The Gaza health ministry said that several casualties were due to the Israeli airstrikes on Khan Younis houses in the southeast region where mostly women and children became targets. 

The Israeli military stated that a great number of Palestinian gunmen were killed via air and ground strikes in the southern part of Gaza which helped in dismantling their infrastructure. 

There was chaos when some of the residents came back to the scene of the raid-stricken scene to look for their clothes and important documents. Some of the children came back for their toys after sifting through the rubble. 

The sources told that it was heart-reaching to see three children wrapped in the same white cloth while several others were dead in the Israeli airstrikes on Khan Younis

Since the region surrounding the town of Jabalia has been the scene of Israeli violence for weeks, Gaza officials also stated that the north of the enclave was a scene of destruction. The health officials cited that Israeli forces stormed into Kamal Adwan Hospital where medical officers were struggling to conduct operations and had to station themselves outside. 

 
 
 
 
 
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The hospital’s director of nursing opened up about the situation 

The hospital’s director of nursing, Eid Sabbah said,

“Since last night, at midnight, the occupation army tanks and bulldozers reached the hospital. The terrorising of civilians, the injured and children began as they (the Israeli army) started opening fire on the hospital”. 

He further added that after the Israeli military retreated, the staff officials from the World Health Organisation arrived with an ambulance and helped in the evacuation of 40 patients. 

Mr Sabbah revealed that the Israeli military did not stop there. Before invading the hospital and all of its employees, their tanks returned and began firing on the facility, focusing on oxygen supplies. The patients were forced to leave. 

Worsening circumstances due to Israeli airstrikes on Khan Younis 

In the nearby town of Beit Lahiya, three houses were destroyed by Israeli strikes and killed 25 people. Dozens of civilians were injured, Gaza officials declared. 

Three hospitals’ medical personnel have refused to comply with Israeli directives to vacate the facilities and leave patients alone. 

Over 800 Palestinians have been killed in northern Gaza in the past three weeks. The health ministry in Gaza has verified the figures. 

No comments from Israel 

After Israeli airstrikes on Khan Younis, there has been no comment from the Israeli side about the attack or WHO on the intense situation. 

However, it has plenty to say about Hamas militants, whom Israel proclaims to be the real targets. Israel wants to destroy their headquarters and finish their fighters, which has been devastating for the rest of Gaza and Palestine. 

The Israeli military said,

“IDF troops continue their operational activity in the area of Jabaliya and have eliminated dozens of terrorists, dismantled terrorist infrastructure and located numerous weapons over the past day”. 

In the past, Israel has unveiled its reason for attacking the densely populated regions of Gaza since it wanted to demolish Hamas and its fighter bases for which it has always accused Hamas of hindering the evacuation of civilians. 

Israel is of the view that Hamas has taken cover in densely populated areas and does not want the civilians to leave, hence, leaving Israel with no choice but to attack such areas. Hamas has denied such claims though. 

Matters exacerbated after the United States push? 

The situation is thought to have gotten worse after the US proposed trying to negotiate a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The deal included the release of Israeli hostages and foreign captives held in Gaza in return for Palestinians jailed by Israel. 

Before Israeli airstrikes on Khan Younis, the Hamas group organised a delegation headed by chief negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya to Cairo. The talks were meant to be conducted in Egypt about “ways to end the Israeli aggression on Gaza”. 

Gaza officials confirmed that they have been making deep efforts to reach any possible deal to end Israeli aggression that is proving to be devastating for the rest of the region. They were determined to agree upon terms that would assist in getting Israeli forces out of the enclave and an agreement to return the hostages to each other. 

Coming days are meant for more discussions 

Negotiators from the US and Israel will gather in Doha in the coming days to talk about the likeliness of hostages and ceasefire deals. 

On the other hand, Israel is fighting the Hezbollah fighter group in Lebanon. 

Several other endeavours were launched, such as by Qatar and Egypt previously, in which talks were initiated for an agreement of ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. The war that had started when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on 7 October 2023. 

It has been more than a year now and the only devastation is evident is that of the people. 1200 people were killed and 250 hostages were kept in Gaza, as Israeli sources disclosed. 

The matters did not cool down on both sides as more than 43,000 people were killed in Gaza as the war entered into its second year. Most of the densely populated areas in Gaza are now finished, with no food and basic necessities of life. 

People are more scared than ever 

The operation in northern Gaza has fueled new fears among people that they think Israeli forces are planning to clear the areas to create a buffer zone. The zone might be meant for the military to make way for the return of settlers who had left Gaza after 2005. Their speculations say that it would be a settling zone for them after the war. 

Israel denied such intentions. 

Emergency treatment required in Gaza, especially for children 

UN agencies have warned that children in Gaza need emergency treatment as they are dying in pain. It is majorly due to Israeli forces preventing them from having help from outside since more medics and hospital staff are needed to cater for thousands of people. 

Accessing medical assistance from outside of Palestine has become more difficult after the Rafah crossing was closed. 

James Elder from UNICEF told the United Nations that 300 children were allowed to be evacuated per month, and now the numbers have declined to less than one per day. Since Israeli authorities are now controlling the entry and exit of every person, the security approvals now matter more than ever, creating problems for getting medical help for children and the incoming of doctors into Palestine.

FAQs

1. What happened during the Israeli airstrikes on Khan Younis?
The Israeli military conducted nighttime airstrikes on Khan Younis in southern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 38 people, including women and children, according to Gaza health officials. Many buildings were destroyed, leaving families to search through the rubble for belongings and documents.

2. Why did the Israeli military target Khan Younis?
According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the strikes targeted Palestinian gunmen and aimed to dismantle militant infrastructure. The IDF reported that the operation was part of ongoing efforts to combat terrorist groups in Gaza, specifically Hamas, which they accuse of embedding themselves in densely populated areas.

3. What occurred at Kamal Adwan Hospital in north Gaza?
Reports from Gaza health officials indicate that Israeli forces stormed Kamal Adwan Hospital, where staff struggled to continue medical procedures amidst ongoing gunfire. The hospital’s director of nursing, Eid Sabbah, stated that Israeli tanks and bulldozers had opened fire on the facility, forcing patients and medical staff to evacuate.

4. How have the airstrikes affected civilians and medical facilities in Gaza?
The airstrikes have heavily impacted civilian areas, causing significant casualties and destruction of homes and hospitals. Medical facilities are struggling, as medical staff face evacuation demands, and the UN has warned of a critical need for emergency medical care, particularly for children.

5. What has been the international response to the situation in Gaza?
International efforts to mediate a ceasefire are ongoing, with countries like the United States, Qatar, and Egypt facilitating negotiations. The U.S. has proposed terms involving the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian detainees held by Israel. However, there has been limited progress on a ceasefire.

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