Israel-Gaza conflict: Khan Younis inhabitants report most severe Israeli attacks since conflict began
Israel has executed powerful aerial assaults on Khan Younis, situated in the south of Gaza, with locals characterizing it as the most severe bombardment of the conflict.
The Israeli military has instructed individuals residing in the city's eastern regions to move further south.
Israel suspects that certain leaders of Hamas are present in the city, which is currently serving as a refuge for numerous civilians who have escaped from the north.
The health department governed by Hamas in Gaza reports that a minimum of 193 individuals have lost their lives due to the recent spate of assaults by Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recommenced their campaign against Hamas in Gaza on Friday. This action was initiated as a reaction to the attacks on Israel on October 7 that resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities.
The health ministry controlled by Hamas reports that the death toll in Gaza has now surpassed 15,200 individuals.
Israel recommenced its airstrike on Gaza following the conclusion of a brief truce on Friday. The IDF reported that it had struck over 400 Hamas "terror locations" on the initial day of the revitalized campaign.
Israel has been continuously targeted with rocket attacks from Gaza since the conflict restarted, which includes a concentrated assault on Tel Aviv and its nearby regions in central Israel last Saturday evening.
After the incident, the Israeli ambulance service reported providing medical assistance to a 22-year-old male who suffered "minor injuries from shrapnel" to the head in Holon, a city located just below Tel Aviv.
During a Saturday night press conference, Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed to persist with the Israeli military campaign until they successfully accomplish all objectives, which include eradicating Hamas and ensuring the safe return of the hostages.
He admitted that "we have a difficult battle to face".
The towns of Khan Younis and Rafah, situated on the Egyptian border, were among areas heavily bombarded by air strikes. The subsequent stage of the assault is anticipated to concentrate on the southern region of Gaza.
Numerous Palestinians, in the hundreds of thousands, have taken refuge in the region following directives to evacuate the northern part of the territory. This area was primarily targeted by Israel in the initial phase of the conflict.
The spokesperson for the IDF who communicates in Arabic shared maps on online platforms. These maps showed the regions that civilians need to vacate, instructing residents in areas to the east of Khan Younis to relocate towards the south to safe spaces in Rafah. This implies that a land attack may be on the horizon.
After weeks of battling, hospitals operating on scarce resources were inundated with casualties. At the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, some patients even had to receive treatment on the ground due to the overflow.
"An evening filled with terror," shared Samira, a mother to four children, with the Reuters news outlet. "It was amongst the most dreadful nights we've experienced in Khan Younis in the six weeks since our arrival… We're terrified that they might invade Khan Younis."
James Elder, a representative from Unicef who was present in Khan Younis on Saturday, informed the BBC that hospitals were already overwhelmed with victims even before the attacks started again.
"He stated with a grim tone, the hallways are practically drenched in blood, and once more, mothers cradle infants that seem to have met a tragic end."
The charity organization, Palestinian Red Crescent, affirmed that 100 trucks carrying aid were permitted to cross into Gaza from Egypt on Saturday. However, on Friday, the region did not receive any humanitarian assistance.
Negotiations for another provisional truce and the liberation of individuals abducted on October 7, who are still in Gaza, fell through on Saturday.
A Palestinian representative well-versed with the discussions informed the BBC that the talks have hit a dead end, with no efforts or communications to arrive at a new ceasefire.
Israel declared on Saturday that it is withdrawing its Mossad intelligence service negotiators from discussions in Qatar due to a "stalemate in the negotiations". Qatar has been playing the role of a go-between in these talks.
The deputy leader of Hamas's political bureau, Saleh al-Arouri, informed Al Jazeera on Saturday that there are currently no ongoing negotiations and that no further prisoner swaps with Israel will take place until the war concludes.
During a discussion with Egypt's president, US Vice President Kamala Harris stated that the United States will not tolerate the compulsory displacement of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, the encirclement of Gaza, or any attempts to alter the boundaries of Gaza under any conditions.
She also restated the US stance that Israel possesses the right to self-defense.
While attending the UN's COP28 climate conference in Dubai, she conveyed to Abdul Fattah al-Sisi that any attempts for peace would only be successful if they were part of a well-defined political plan for the Palestinian people, aiming towards their own state governed by a rejuvenated Palestinian Authority.
During the briefing on Saturday, Mr. Netanyahu applauded the liberation of 110 Israeli captives – including women, children, and a few non-Israelis.
"Good to have you back from the underworld," Mr. Netanyahu stated.
The captives were liberated as a trade-off for the release of 240 Palestinian detainees, specifically, women and young adults.
The majority of the approximately 140 detainees still in Gaza are men and members of the military.
Further details on the conflict between Israel and Gaza
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