Title: Intensifying Conflict in Gaza Strip: Israel Surrounds Khan Yunis and Hamas Leader's Residence
Israel's military has reportedly sealed off the largest city in the Gaza Strip, Khan Yunis, and the residence of Gaza's Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh (alias Jihia al-Sinwar). Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted that Haniyeh might elude capture yet, but Israel remains determined to locate him promptly.
Meanwhile, the urban warfare in Khan Yunis persists, with Hamas viewing it as one of its strongholds. UN Secretary-General António Guterres pleaded with the UN Security Council to avert a potential humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.
Humanitarian Predicament Worsens
Numerous families have reportedly fled Chan Junis, a neighborhood within Khan Yunis, due to the escalating conflicts. With dwindling food, water, and essential resources, the situation continues to grow more dire. To avert a humanitarian calamity, Israel has increased fuel imports into the southern Gaza Strip.
The vast subterranean tunnel network in Gaza Strip, believed to shelter the Hamas leadership and thousands of its members, remains unexplored. Haniyeh, a high-priority target due to his involvement in the terror attack on Israeli territory in October 7, 2023, that claimed over 1,000 lives, is under Israel's watchful eye.
Criticism and Controversies
Guterres has been accused of backing the terrorist organization Hamas by advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza. Israel's foreign minister, Eli Cohen, echoed this criticism, while the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SECO) expressed apprehension concerning the rising violence in the Gaza Strip and the burdens faced by the Palestinian civilian population.
EU-China Summit to Deliberate Gaza Strip Crisis
During the upcoming EU-China summit in Beijing, the European Union and China are set to discuss the Gaza Strip conflict. Efforts to mediate the conflict, decrease tensions, and support—especially for the beleaguered civilian population—are ongoing internationally.
Enrichment Information
Extensive military operations by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in Khan Yunis, involving artillery strikes, air raids, and ground invasions, resulted in substantial destruction and loss of life. Thousands of civilians remain trapped in the aftermath of these operations.
UN General Assembly passed a resolution advocating for an immediate, sustained humanitarian truce and cessation of hostilities, supported by 121 countries against 14 with 44 abstentions.
Hamas has utilized tactics such as tunnel warfare and booby traps to resist Israeli forces, incurring losses but maintaining its combat viability. Despite these efforts, Hamas's ability to regenerate to its pre-war strength has been impeded by the destruction of tunnels and factories.
Yahya Sinwar, the de facto leader of Hamas, died in a firefight against Israeli forces on October 16, 2024, in the southern Gaza Strip. Despite his absence, Hamas has continued its operations in Khan Yunis, withstanding Israeli forces.
