The Second Battle of Khan Yunis is an ongoing military engagement in the Gaza Strip that began on 22 July 2024[1] as part of the ongoing Israel–Hamas war. It marks the return of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to the Khan Yunis area inside the Gaza Strip after a previous battle and siege which lasted from December 2023 to April 2024 and ended with an Israeli withdrawal.[2][3][4]
| Second Battle of Khan Yunis | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip during the Israel-Hamas war | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Israel |
 Hamas | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Dan Goldfuss | Unknown | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
Al Qassam Brigades | |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 70+ Palestinians killed, 200+ Palestinians injured | |||||||
Background
editFirst battle
editThe first battle between Israel and Hamas in Khan Yunis, part of the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, began on 1 December 2023 and evolved into a siege in late January 2024. It ended on 7 April 2024 with the withdrawal of the IDF from not only Khan Yunis but all of the southern Gaza Strip, a move which was partially reversed with the ongoing Rafah offensive beginning in May 2024.
The IDF had failed to dismantle Hamas in Khan Yunis, with the latter firing rockets at Israel hours after the withdrawal,[5] and retaining "combat effectiveness" in the city.[6]
Evacuation order
editThe IDF issued an evacuation order to Palestinian civilians,[1] a move which was seen as controversial by some for supposedly allowing Hamas commanders to escape with the civilians.[7] The Palestinian Civil Defense said that the evacuation order would affect around 400,000 people.[8][9] Israel downsized the humanitarian zone where 1.7 million Palestinians took refuge and adjusted its boundaries, reducing it from 65 sq km to 48 sq km.[10]
Battle
editIDF troops under the command of Brigadier General Dan Goldfuss[7] began a ground offensive into Khan Yunis on 22 July. The IDF claimed to have struck around 30 Hamas infrastructure targets with a mix of ground strikes and air strikes.[7][9] Israeli tanks advanced into and attacked multiple small towns on the eastern fringe of Khan Yunis with air support.[11][12] This included an Israeli attack on Bani Suheila, a town in the Khan Yunis area, which resulted in the deaths of at least 70 Palestinian civilians and more than 200 injured.[13]
Hamas targeted IDF tanks advancing in Bani Suheila with rocket-propelled grenades and explosively formed penetrators.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b "IDF orders evacuation of part of Gaza safe zone, says Hamas deeply embedded in area". The Times of Israel. 22 July 2024.
- ^ Picheta, Vasco Cotovio, Rob (2024-04-07). "Israeli military says it has withdrawn forces from Khan Younis after months of fighting". CNN. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Adler, Edna Mohamed,Nils. "Israel's war on Gaza updates: Israel says troops moved for new operations". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "IDF ends active ground invasion, completely withdraws from southern Gaza". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2024-04-07. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
- ^ Fabian, Emanuel (7 April 2024). "Five rockets fired from Khan Younis at Gaza border communities, hours after IDF withdraws ground troops". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ "IRAN UPDATE, APRIL 7, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ a b c "IDF reinvades Khan Yunis after 3.5 month break as it draws down some forces from Rafah". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2024-07-22. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ Gadzo, Mersiha. "Israel-Palestine conflict | Live updates | Today's latest from Al Jazeera". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ a b Al-Mughrabi, Nidal; Rabinovitch, Ari; Khaled, Hatem (22 July 2024). "Israel sends tanks back into Khan Younis area, 70 killed after new evacuation order". Reuters.
- ^ Al-Mughrabi, Nidal (22 July 2024). "Israel sends tanks back into Khan Younis area, 70 killed after new evacuation order". Reuters. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ "'Like doomsday': 70 killed in Israeli tank shelling, strikes on Khan Younis". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ a b "IRAN UPDATE, JULY 22, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
- ^ Al-Mughrabi, Nidal (22 July 2024). "Israel sends tanks back into Khan Younis area, 70 killed after new evacuation order". Reuters. Retrieved 23 July 2024.