Israeli Forces Enter Heart of Khan Yunis in Gaza Operations

By Yoni Weiss

The IDF announced on Tuesday afternoon that they are currently operating within the heart of Khan Yunis, the largest city in southern Gaza. The IDF mentioned their presence in the central areas of Jabaliya and Shejaya, followed by their recent entry into Khan Yunis.

Although the forces entered Khan Yunis on Monday, the official announcement came a day later. In earlier days, the IDF had urged residents from specific areas within Khan Yunis to evacuate.

Khan Yunis, Gaza’s second-largest city and the capital of the southern district, holds significance as the personal stronghold of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, whose family resides there. Since the war’s commencement, the IDF has targeted two Hamas politburo members and associates of Sinwar who lived in Khan Yunis.

Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, head of the southern command, said that troops were involved in the heaviest fighting seen since the start of the ground invasion last month.

On Tuesday morning, the IDF confirmed the encirclement of Jabaliya and conducted a raid on Hamas’s General Security Headquarters situated within the U.N.-administered refugee camp. The headquarters yielded discoveries of weaponry, command and control equipment, surveillance tools, and maps.