Israeli forces continue their incursion deep into Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip and announced yesterday, Wednesday, that they have reached the home of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in the region. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk stated that Palestinians in Gaza are living in "absolute escalating terror," pointing to "increasing risks" of "horrific crimes" including genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. His remarks coincided with the Israeli army announcing that its soldiers are engaged in face-to-face combat in Khan Younis, with clashes being among the fiercest since the start of the war two months ago.
Reports indicate that the streets of Khan Younis have emptied of pedestrians as Israeli tanks penetrate the area. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his forces have surrounded Sinwar's house in the city. He added in a statement, "I said yesterday that our forces can reach anywhere in the Gaza Strip. Today, they are besieging Sinwar's house. He may not be fortified in his home and could escape, but it is just a matter of time before we catch him."
It was reported yesterday that leaders of the "Families of Hostages Forum" are considering approaching U.S. President Joe Biden to intervene with Netanyahu, war command members, and military leaders to halt the Gaza war and return to negotiations over a prisoner exchange deal. This comes after a heated meeting where differences erupted between Netanyahu and the representatives of hostage families on Tuesday night. In Ramallah, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas confirmed that the Authority is present in the Gaza Strip and has not left, emphasizing a return to the "two-state solution."
