Hamas said its fighters clashed with Israeli troops about 2km (1.2 miles) from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. Many residents had moved there to escape previous attacks. They said they could hear the sound of tanks and feared a new Israeli ground offensive was underway.
The Gaza Strip continues to be attacked by Israeli forces from the army, navy, artillery and air force. Photo: Reuters
The Israeli military had earlier ordered residents to evacuate some areas in and near the city of Khan Younis, but made no announcement of any new ground offensive in southern Gaza.
“The IDF continues to expand its ground operations targeting Hamas centers throughout the Gaza Strip. The forces are confronting the terrorists and eliminating them,” IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters in Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile, Israel continues to carry out heavy air strikes. The Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza is among those reported to have been hit by airstrikes. Gaza health officials say hundreds of people have been killed in new Israeli airstrikes.
Residents said bombing from warplanes and artillery had also focused on Khan Younis and Rafah, another city in southern Gaza, and hospitals were struggling to cope with the influx of wounded.
Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy said the military struck more than 400 targets over the weekend “including large-scale air strikes in the Khan Younis area,” killing several Hamas militants and destroying infrastructure in Beit Lahiya.
Israeli warships fire artillery towards the Gaza Strip on December 3, 2023. Photo: Israeli Army
The renewed fighting came after a ceasefire failed to be extended and ended on Friday. A week of truce had seen the sides exchange 105 Hamas hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners, under deals brokered by Qatar and Egypt.
Gaza's health ministry says more than 15,523 people have been killed in Gaza in nearly two months of fighting. However, Gazans fear a wider Israeli ground offensive in southern areas could cause more casualties.
Many residents have begun to pack up their belongings but say the areas they were told to go to are also under attack. In addition, tanks have now cut off the road between Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, dividing the Strip into three separate areas.
Nabil Al-Ghandour said he and his family would leave Khan Younis for Rafah. However, he said: “We cannot see any safe areas… But we have to go because what can we do? We have children and we are under shelling all night long.”
Bui Huy (according to Reuters, CNN, AP)
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