11-12-2023 (GAZA) In a significant escalation of the conflict in the southern Gaza Strip, Israeli tanks forcefully made their way into the heart of Khan Younis on December 10. Reports from health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza indicate a grim toll of approximately 18,000 Palestinians killed since the commencement of the war.
Israeli leaders claimed that numerous Hamas fighters had surrendered, asserting that this development might encourage others to follow suit. However, Hamas vehemently denied these claims, labeling them as “false and baseless.”
Residents of Khan Younis reported intense combat throughout the night, with tanks reaching the main north-south road after a slow advance from the east. Simultaneously, warplanes pounded the western area of the assault, resulting in thick columns of white smoke rising over the densely populated city, housing displaced individuals from various parts of the enclave.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has persistently advocated for a ceasefire in Gaza, expressed a grim outlook, stating that the enclave is on the verge of collapse. Guterres warned of an imminent breakdown of public order, predicting a worsened situation involving epidemic diseases and heightened pressure for mass displacement into Egypt.
Earlier on December 10, near a city-centre police station, the constant rattle of machinegun fire echoed through deserted streets, portraying the dire circumstances faced by the residents. A displaced father of four, sheltering in Khan Younis, described the night as one of the most dreadful, citing strong resistance that persisted for hours.
In the northern areas of the Gaza Strip, where Israel had previously claimed completion of its tasks, residents reported some of the most intense fighting of the war. Despite the challenges, some expressed determination to stay in their homes, vowing to either die as martyrs or be left alone.
Israel’s commitment to annihilate Hamas, the ruling authority in Gaza since 2007, stems from the militant group’s actions on October 7, when they breached the fence and launched a rampage through Israeli towns, resulting in numerous casualties and hostages.
Gaza’s health authorities reported approximately 18,000 confirmed deaths and 49,500 injuries in Israeli strikes, with thousands more missing and presumed dead under the rubble. The toll excludes figures from northern parts of the enclave, where ambulances cannot reach, and hospitals have ceased functioning.
In response to the Israeli call for surrender, Hamas maintained its stance, denying any surrenders and claiming to have destroyed 180 Israeli military vehicles during the ongoing conflict. Social media images of detained Palestinian men kneeling prompted anger, while released individuals alleged physical abuse in Israeli custody.
As the conflict engulfs the entire length of the Gaza Strip, international aid organizations warn of a catastrophic situation with no safe havens for its 2.3 million people. The World Health Organization decries the nearly impossible task of improving the situation in Gaza, where medical needs surge, disease risk grows, and the health system dwindles.
In Khan Younis, families sifted through the rubble of destroyed homes, searching for survivors. The main hospital, Nasser Hospital, overwhelmed with casualties, struggles to cope with the influx of wounded. The majority of Gaza’s residents have been displaced, with Israel’s efforts to protect civilians falling short, even according to its closest ally, the United States.
Concerns of escalation extend beyond Gaza, with intensified fighting reported between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon. Arab foreign ministers, critical of the U.S. veto on a UN Security Council resolution for a humanitarian ceasefire, warn of the potential radicalization of a generation in the Middle East. The conflict, labeled by some as a genocidal campaign by Israel, continues to draw international condemnation, with calls for a ceasefire persisting.
