Israeli tanks reach Khan Younis centre in new attack on southern Gaza

In a significant new advance into the middle of the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, which is providing sanctuary to hundreds of thousands of residents who have left other areas of the enclave, Israeli tanks fought their way there on Sunday.

After fierce fighting through the night that stalled the Israeli approach from the east, residents stated that tanks had made their way to the main north-south road through the centre of Khan Younis. The area west of the assault was being bombarded by warplanes.

Thick columns of white smoke rose over the city, as the unceasing thud of explosions rumbled through the air. Machinegun fire was always rattling away as dawn broke close to a police station in the city core. There, the streets were mostly empty.

Residents also reported some of the bloodiest fighting of the war thus far in the northern parts of the Gaza Strip, where Israel had previously said that its forces had mostly finished their tasks.

Israeli forces were encountering stiff opposition as they advanced into militant strongholds in Gaza City’s Jabaliya and Shejjaiya neighbourhoods, which are still populated despite directives issued weeks prior to evacuate the whole region.

Residents also reported some of the bloodiest fighting of the war thus far in the northern parts of the Gaza Strip, where Israel had previously said that its forces had mostly finished their tasks.

Israeli forces were encountering stiff opposition as they advanced into terrorist strongholds in Gaza City’s Jabaliya and Shejjaiya neighbourhoods, which are still populated despite directives issued weeks ago to evacuate the whole region.

After terrorists broke through the border on October 7 and rampaged across Israeli cities, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 captives, Israel promised to destroy Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007.

At least 17,700 deaths have been recorded as a result of Israeli bombings since then, according to Gaza’s health authorities, while many more are still missing and thought to be dead under debris. Figures from the northern enclave, where ambulances cannot access and where hospitals have closed, are no longer included in the toll.

(With agency inputs)