The Israeli army announced that its forces "conducted a wide-scale operation that encircled Khan Younis," while Reuters reported that Israeli tanks blocked the last road leading to the coast, obstructing the escape route for civilians trying to reach Rafah. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Benjamin Netanyahu's government stated that Israel would not agree to a ceasefire deal with Hamas if it allowed the continued captivity of hostages in Gaza or the retention of the group in power in the enclave. On the other hand, Hamas Politburo member Ghazi Hamad confirmed that the movement insists on a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza before discussing any details regarding the captives.
Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari reiterated the continuation of combat in all areas of the Gaza Strip. During a press conference in Tel Aviv, he stated that Israeli forces are continuing their extensive assault on Khan Younis in southern Gaza and are entering new areas. He also added that the Israeli army killed "more than 100 militants in Gaza near western Khan Younis in the last 24 hours."
Regarding the Maghazi attack, he noted that Palestinian militants launched RPG shells which likely caused an explosion leading to the collapse of two buildings and the death of a group of Israeli soldiers in Gaza. He explained that "an armed group surprised the force with RPG fire, hitting the first shell at one of the buildings that contained explosives. The strike apparently caused the explosion that led to the collapse of the building and the adjacent structure."
It is noteworthy that the operation occurred in the buffer zone about 600 meters from the Gaza fence in the Maghazi refugee camp area, according to Israeli broadcasting authority, after Israeli soldiers rigged several buildings in line with their usual practices since invading vast areas in northern and central Gaza. However, Hamas elements shelled those buildings while reserve troops from the first brigade were inside, resulting in the deaths of dozens of them.
Fierce battles are taking place in Khan Younis between Palestinian factions and Israeli soldiers who have advanced southward, three months after their ground assault began. With the Israeli forces advancing, more than one million people are now gathering in Rafah, south of Khan Younis, near the Egyptian border.
