
The bloodiest new phase of the Israel-Hamas war is unfolding in the second largest city in the Gaza Strip, Khan Younis. The Israeli army announced that its forces have moved into the "heart of the city", which has become the first target after Israel's decision to expand military operations in the southern part of the Palestinian enclave.
According to the Israeli armed forces, yesterday was marked by the fiercest fighting since the start of its military operations in the Gaza Strip five weeks ago. "We are in the most intense day since the beginning of the ground operation," said the commander of the Israeli army's Southern Command, General Yaron Finkelman.
At the same time, fighting is also raging in the north, with Israel reporting that its forces are now also operating in the heart of Jabaliya and Sujaiya, securing several Hamas strongholds.
The Israeli military is again calling for nearly 80% of the population – already displaced – to move to other areas further south in the Gaza Strip triggering a new wave of displacement and further exacerbating the already existing humanitarian crisis.
Israel accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields with Army Chief of Staff Herji Halevi admitting that Israeli forces are hitting urban infrastructure hard because of what he says are militants of the Palestinian Islamic group who hide weapons in them and dress in civilian clothes to attacked Israeli soldiers.