Colonel William A. Phillips

The battle of Khan Yunis, which evolved into the siege of Khan Yunis in late January,[22] began on 1 December 2023 in the midst of the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip.

Battle

December 2023

On 1 December 2023, the Israel Defense Forces launched air raid operations on the city of Khan Yunis, with Israeli Air Force fighter jets striking over 50 targets in the area.[23] These air raids and artillery strikes continued for the next few days in large numbers.[24]

On 3 December, Israeli forces announced the expansion of the ground invasion to the south of Gaza using ground and armored forces.[25] On the same day, Hamas announced that it had targeted Israeli troops and armored vehicles with mortar shells and Yassin rocket-propelled grenades.

On 5 December, the Israeli forces claimed that their troops had reached the center of Khan Yunis. They stated that this was the most intense day of battles since the start of ground operations, in terms of Hamas fighters killed, the number of engagements and the use of fire from the ground and the air.[26]

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad published a video showing militants confronting Israeli forces penetrating east of the city.[citation needed] Also, Hamas announced that they have counted the total or partial destruction of 24 military vehicles in Khan Yunis. They also stated that they eliminated 8 Israeli troops with sniper attacks and that they successfully demolished a building housing Israeli troops with a barrel bomb and TBG explosives, causing the complete collapse of the building.[citation needed]

On 10 December, the IDF announced that 6 IDF soldiers had been killed whilst fighting in Khan Yunis.[27]

On 18 December, IDF announced that the Duvdevan Unit and the Oketz Unit had destroyed multiple tunnels and a drone factory during advances in Khan Yunis while seven IDF soldiers were killed. The destruction of rocket launchers aimed at Israel degraded the ability of Hamas to launch rocket strikes on Israel.[28] It was reported that Hamas was transferring forces from across Gaza Strip to reinforce the Khan Yunis Brigade which the IDF estimates would take months to destroy. [29]

On 19 December, al-Qassam Brigades announced that they had detonated a rigged house when Israeli forces entered the building and also announced a separate incident where they trapped Israeli forces in a house and detonated anti-personnel charges and thermobaric shells. The al-Qassam Brigades claimed both attacks killed and wounded Israeli forces but without evidence to support their claims. IDF forces were reinforced by an additional brigade and engineering force.[30]

On 23 December, the al Qassem Brigades claimed that they lured five Israeli SOF engineers into a tunnel rigged with explosive at the east of Khan Yunis, and that they killed all of the five engineers.[31]

January 2024

On 4 January 2024, the IDF claimed to have significantly degraded the command and control of Hamas's Khan Yunis Brigade's northern and eastern battalions with the destruction of tunnel systems, infrastructure and deaths of company commanders. The IDF's 4th Brigade attacked the southern flank of Hamas's Khan Yunis Brigade as the IDF surrounded the city. In turn, Hamas’ naval special operations forces reinforced Palestinian fighters in Khan Yunis via tunnel systems while the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, the National Resistance Brigades and the al-Quds Brigades fought the IDF in different areas of the city.[32]

On 12 January, the IDF announced that airstrikes directed by the IDF 98th Division killed a commander in Hamas Nukhba Forces and six other Hamas fighter with the commander participating in October 7 attacks on Israel. IDF also destroyed weapon caches found in the area. The al Quds Brigades attacked an Israeli bulldozer in Khan Younis City while firing mortars against Israeli forces in central Khan Younis together with al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. [33]

On 21 January, Israeli forces discovered an underground tunnel in a civilian area of Khan Younis which contained five prison cells where Hamas is believed to have kept the hostages. IDF published children's drawings as proof the hostages had been held there.[34]

On 24 January 2024, twenty-one Israeli soldiers were killed in an explosion and subsequent building collapse in Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip, making it the deadliest day for the Israel Defense Forces since the ground invasion began.[35]

February 2024

On 1 February, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited Khan Younis and announced that all Hamas battalions in Khan Younis have been dismantled but the IDF had not yet claimed operational control over the area.[36]

On 15 February, IDF raided the Nasser Hospital, alleging that Hamas was holding Israeli hostages at the facility and it possibly contained bodies of some dead hostages. The IDF arrested dozens of people it alleged to be militants.[37]

On 18 February. IDF reported that Hamas's Khan Younis Brigade does not exist as a military entity anymore but other Hamas-aligned militias continued attacks against the IDF.[38]

On 19 February, IDF reported that clearing operation in western Khan Younis are being finished with Israeli forces carrying out airstrikes to eliminate Hamas units trying to advance towards Khan Younis. The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed attacks with IEDs and RPGs against Israeli forces near Nasser Hospital. Hamas reported its fighters had returned from fighting areas in western Khan Younis after targetting 15 Israeli soldiers in a house.[39]

March 2024

On 9 March, Visegrád 24, a Polish social media account on X (formerly Twitter), claimed Hamas had been defeated by Israel in the city.[40] However, this was disputed by the Institute for the Study of War, who also published on 9 March that Hamas “remains combat effective” in Khan Yunis.[41]

April 2024

On 6 April, four Israeli soldiers were killed in an ambush in Khan Yunis.[42] Two days later, the Qassam Brigades military media published the operation, which they had named the “Ambush of the Righteous”, depicting a complex and meticulously planned attack with several phases. [43]

On 7 April, all Israeli forces withdrew from Khan Yunis.[10] In an announcement the same day, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed that Hamas forces has ceased to exist as a military force in Khan Younis and stated the withdrawal was in preparation for the planned Rafah offensive.[44] However, rockets were fired by Palestinian forces in Khan Younis immediately after the IDF's withdrawal.[45] White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby claimed it was a “rest and refit” rather than a preparation for a offensive.[46] According to the Institute for the Study of War, citing unspecified sources within the IDF, IDF hoped the withdrawal would allow displaced Palestinians in Rafah to migrate to parts of Khan Younis and the central Gaza Strip which would facilitate an Israeli clearing operation into Rafah.[47]

Aftermath

Following the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the Palestinian Civil Defence accessed the city, so far had been able to extract 280 bodies. [48] They have estimated that about 8,000 civilians lie under the rubble in Khan Yunis. Later the Palestinian civil defense crew discovered a mass grave near the Nasser Medical Complex and recovered over 310 bodies so far.[49]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Institute for the Study of War".
  2. ^ "Institute for the Study of War".
  3. ^ a b "كتائب القسام تعلن استهداف 18 جنديا وتدمير 24 آلية إسرائيلية". Al Mamlaka. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Iran Update, December 6, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. 6 December 2023. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Institute for the Study of War".
  6. ^ "More than 180 killed as Israel resumes Gaza assault". Al Jazeera. 1 December 2023. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Israeli military 'encircles' Khan Younis after 24 soldiers killed in Gaza".
  8. ^ Breaking : Israeli Military Units Withdrew From Gaza Strip, 7 April 2024
  9. ^ "IDF withdraws all ground troops from southern Gaza, leaving just one brigade in the enclave". The times of Israel. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  10. ^ a b Yonah, Jeremy Bob (7 April 2024). "IDF withdraws advancing troops from the Gaza Strip - report". Jerusalem Post.
  11. ^ Israeli military pulls troops from southern Gaza, 7 April 2024
  12. ^ Israel’s war on Gaza live: Army division reportedly retreats from the south, 7 April 2024
  13. ^ Israel ‘pulls out troops’ from southern Gaza as attacks enter seventh month, 7 April 2024
  14. ^ Cotovio, Vasco (7 April 2024). "Israeli military says it has withdrawn forces from Khan Younis after months of fighting". CNN.
  15. ^ a b "Institute for the Study of War".
  16. ^ "Institute for the Study of War".
  17. ^ a b c "Institute for the Study of War".
  18. ^ "كمين الأبرار .. القسام يعرض مشاهد لعملية نوعية ضدالاحتلال شرق خانيونس (شاهد)". 9 April 2024.
  19. ^ "דובר צה"ל: כוחותינו פועלים באופן ממוקד בח'אן יונס לחיסול תשתיות ומחבלי חמאס" – via www.youtube.com.
  20. ^ "الحرب على غزة.. مقبرة جماعية بخان يونس والاحتلال يقر خططا لمواصلة العمليات بالقطاع". aljazeera.
  21. ^ "الجزيرة ترافق الدفاع المدني خلال انتشاله جثامين شهداء في خان يونس".
  22. ^ "IDF: Completed Siege of Khan Yunis; Hezbollah: Attacked Airbase in Israel's North". Haaretz.
  23. ^ "Real time updates". idf.il. Archived from the original on 6 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Israel's war on Gaza: List of key events, day 58". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 6 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Israel says it has expanded ground operation to every part of the Gaza Strip". CityNews Toronto. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  26. ^ IDF [@idfonline] (5 December 2023). ""אנחנו נמצאים בליבת ג׳באליה, בליבת שג׳עייה וכעת גם בליבת חאן יונס״ - לוחמי צה"ל פועלים במעוזי הטרור של ארגון הטרור חמאס ומנהלים קרבות עצימים מול מחבלי חמאס. מפקד פיקוד הדרום, אלוף ירון פינקלמן: ״אנחנו נמצאים בליבת ג׳באליה, בליבת שג׳עייה והחל מהלילה גם בליבת חאן יונס .אנחנו ביממה העצימה ביותר מתחילת התמרון - מבחינת מחבלים הרוגים, כמות היתקלויות והפעלת האש מהיבשה ומהאוויר. אנחנו מתכוונים להמשיך לתקוף ולהעמיק את ההישג״ לכל הפרטים: idf.il/159230" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  27. ^ "7 soldiers killed, pushing Gaza ground op toll to 104; fighting rages in Khan Younis". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  28. ^ "Seven soldiers die as IDF breaks more Khan Yunis defense lines". The Jerusalem Post. 18 December 2023. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  29. ^ IRAN UPDATE, DECEMBER 18, 2023. "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ "IRAN UPDATE, DECEMBER 19, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  31. ^ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War.
  32. ^ "IRAN UPDATE, JANUARY 4, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  33. ^ "IRAN UPDATE, JANUARY 12, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  34. ^ "IRAN UPDATE, JANUARY 21, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  35. ^ "RPG fired at tank triggers explosion killing Israeli soldiers in Gaza, IDF says".
  36. ^ "Israel defeats Hamas in Khan Yunis, over 10,000 Gazan terrorists killed". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  37. ^ Lieber, Dov; Stancati, Margherita; Ayyoub, Abeer. "Israeli Forces Enter Gaza Hospital to Search for Hostages". WSJ. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  38. ^ "IRAN UPDATE, FEBRUARY 18, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  39. ^ "IRAN UPDATE, FEBRUARY 19, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  40. ^ "After heavy fighting, Hamas has now been defeated in Khan Yunis" (Post on X). X. Visegrád 24. 9 March 2024. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  41. ^ Jhaveri, Ashka; Moore, Johanna; Braverman, Alexandra; Carl, Nicholas (9 March 2024). "Iran Update, March 9, 2024" (Historical analysis and research). Institute for the Study of War. Washington, D.C.: ISW Press. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  42. ^ Benson, Pesach (7 April 2024). "Four Israeli Soldiers Killed in Ambush as War Enters Sixth Month". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  43. ^ "كمين الأبرار .. القسام يعرض مشاهد لعملية نوعية ضدالاحتلال شرق خانيونس (شاهد)". 9 April 2024.
  44. ^ "Gallant: IDF withdrawal from Khan Yunis in preparation for Rafah operation". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 7 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  45. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (7 April 2024). "Five rockets fired from Khan Younis at Gaza border communities, hours after IDF withdraws ground troops". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  46. ^ Cotovio, Vasco (7 April 2024). "Israeli military says it has withdrawn forces from Khan Younis after months of fighting". CNN. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  47. ^ "IRAN UPDATE, APRIL 7, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  48. ^ "ارتفاع عدد الشهداء الذين انتُشلت جثامينهم بخان يونس إلى". ALjazeera.
  49. ^ Jamal, Stephen Quillen,Urooba. "Israel War on Gaza | Live updates | Today's latest from Al Jazeera". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 23 April 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Khan_Yunis