Nearly 200 people were reported killed in the Gaza Strip within 24 hours amid ongoing Israeli tank fire and aerial bombings targeting Khan Younis, according to local residents.
Additional air strikes were reported at the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, with details provided by medics and Palestinian journalists.
Israeli forces have intensified attacks on Khan Younis, preparing for a possible further advance into this major southern city, parts of which were captured in early December.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Israeli troops were targeting Hamas command centers and arms depots. The Israeli military confirmed it destroyed a tunnel complex beneath a house owned by Hamas leader for Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, in Gaza City.
Twelve weeks after Hamas militants attacked Israeli towns, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 240 hostages, Israeli operations have significantly damaged parts of the Gaza Strip. The military campaign aims to eradicate the Islamist group.
The conflict has forced nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents to flee their homes at least once, with many seeking refuge in makeshift shelters.
Gaza, spanning only 40 kilometers (25 miles), is one of the world’s most densely populated regions.
Gaza health authorities reported 187 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes in the last 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 21,507, approximately 1% of Gaza’s population. Fears mount that thousands more may be buried in the rubble of destroyed neighborhoods.
