Israel’s military has encircled the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, resulting in intense fighting and bombardments in an area filled with civilians who have fled their homes in other parts of the territory. The Israeli military has described the area as a “significant stronghold” of Hamas’s Khan Younis brigade and claimed to have killed dozens of Hamas fighters. The military’s claims have not been independently verified. The fighting has involved heavy exchanges of gunfire and a surge of Israeli tanks and troops into areas around the city’s hospitals. Displaced civilians in the area say they have no safe place to go. The situation is dire, with civilians trapped and facing danger from snipers and heavy clashes. The area has experienced a significant increase in population due to multiple displacements, leaving people struggling to find space to set up makeshift tents. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that Israeli forces had essentially besieged the entire Khan Younis district. For more information, you can visit www.nytimes.com.
