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Third battle of Khan Yunis

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Third battle of Khan Yunis
Part of the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip during the Israel–Hamas war
Date9 August 2024 – 30 August 2024[3]
(3 weeks)
Location
Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip
Result Israeli withdrawal
Belligerents
 Israel  Hamas
Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Fatah Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades[1]
Palestinian Mujahideen Movement[2]
Commanders and leaders
Israel Dan Goldfuss Hamas Mohammed Sinwar
Units involved

 Israel Defense Forces

State of Palestine Palestinian Joint Operations Room

Casualties and losses
Israel 2 soldiers killed Per Israel:
250+ militants killed
State of Palestine 21+ Palestinian civilians killed

The third battle of Khan Yunis[5][6][7][8] was a battle in the Israel-Hamas war which began on 9 August 2024. The battle represented the third separate ground operation in Khan Yunis by Israel against Hamas-led Palestinian forces, following the first siege and a brief second battle in the city. Like the previous two battles, it ended in an Israeli withdrawal from Khan Yunis.

Background

See also: Siege of Khan Yunis, Second battle of Khan Yunis, and Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh

Starting on 1 December 2023, the Israel Defense Forces had launched air raid operations on the city of Khan Yunis, with Israeli Air Force fighter jets striking over 50 targets in the area.[9] These air raids and artillery strikes continued in large numbers.[10] On 7 April, all Israeli forces withdrew from Khan Yunis. In an announcement the same day, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed that Hamas forces has ceased to exist as a military force in Khan Yunis and stated the withdrawal was in preparation for the planned Rafah offensive.[11] However, rockets were fired by Palestinian forces in Khan Yunis immediately after the IDF's withdrawal.[12] White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby claimed it was a "rest and refit" rather than a preparation for a offensive.[13]

A brief eight-day battle occurred in Khan Yunis governorate from 22 July 2024 to 30 July 2024, which included an Israeli attack on Bani Suheila, which resulted in the deaths of 73 Palestinians and more than 270 injured.[14][15][16] The battle ended with an Israeli withdrawal, allowing Palestinians to re-enter the city and return to their homes.[17]

Following the Israel-conducted assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar formally replaced Haniyeh as the political head of Hamas on 6 August.[18] Hours prior to the beginning of the battle, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israeli negotiators would be sent to deliberate on a "final" cease-fire proposal urged by President of the United States Joe Biden in conjunction with Egypt and Qatar.[5]

Prior to the operation

Israeli and American intelligence and military officials both stated their belief that Yahya Sinwar was hiding in Khan Yunis, and reported that their intelligence showed them that Hamas and Hamas infrastructure was collecting in the region. Based on this information, the IDF began plans to begin new operations in the Khan Yunis governorate to target Hamas “command-and-control centers”.[5][6][19]

On the eve of the battle on 8 August, residents reported that Israeli forces began distributing leaflets from airplanes telling them to evacuate from Khan Yunis in addition to towns in the eastern region of the Khan Yunis governorate, including Al-Qarara, Al-Salqa, and Bani Suheila.[19] Several thousands of civilians evacuated from Khan Yunis while carrying essential equipment such as tents, blankets, and mattresses.[6] Most evacuees had to walk out of the city on foot due to the low petrol supplies in the region prohibiting most from using vehicles. Agence France-Presse journalists reported that by the dusk of 8 August, the city was fully evacuated of civilians as far as they could see.[19]

Battle

The third battle of Khan Yunis began on 9 August 2024 with a series of airstrikes from the Israeli Air Force that according to the city's Nasser Hospital, killed at least twenty-one Palestinians. One airstrike struck the residence of the Abu Moamar family and killed a Palestinian television reporter and journalist, while also killing his wife and their three daughters.[6]

Another airstrike hit several tents in the al-Mawasi coastal refugee camp that housed internally displaced people, which killed an Al Aqsa television journalist in addition to another five people. A third strike hit a car in the city.[6]

The 98th Paratroopers Division entered Khan Yunis and began military ground operations targeting Hamas combatants.[20] The Israeli Defense Forces reported that they had conducted airstrikes on thirty targets in Khan Yunis related to Hamas operations, including Hamas troops and weapon storages. The IDF further reported that its ground troops had entered the city to combat Hamas troops while located Hamas tunnels and other associated infrastructure.[6]

On 12 August, an IDF soldier was killed in a Hamas sniper attack in Khan Yunis.[21]

On 19 August, the IDF announced that an officer was killed and three other soldiers were wounded in a case of friendly fire when their position was hit by an airstrike. Israeli F-15 fighter jets launched two missiles at targets in the Khan Yunis area. One missile hit its target, while the other missile did not correctly glide to the intended target due to a technical issue and instead struck a building where a unit of Israeli paratroopers was positioned.[22]

On 30 August, Israel announced its withdrawal from Khan Yunis, stating they had "completed their divisional operation" in the area, killing more than 250 militants and destroying many militant sites.[23]

Aftermath

Hamas stated on 3 October that it conducted a three-stage attack targeting Israeli armored vehicles east of Khan Yunis near the Israel-Gaza Strip border.[24]

On 7 October, the one year anniversary of the start of the war, Hamas launched rockets at Tel Aviv from Khan Yunis, demonstrating that the IDF had not eradicated Hamas in the city.[25] Following this, the IDF ordered an evacuation of the Khan Yunis area.[26]

The IDF conducted a brief hours-long incursion into Khan Yunis on the evening of 24 October, withdrawing the next day.[27][28]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Institute for the Study of War".
  2. ^ "Institute for the Study of War".
  3. ^ Quillen, Stephen; Uras, Umut; Adler, Nils. "Israel's war on Gaza live: Israel leaves bodies in wake of Khan Younis exit". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  4. ^ "Institute for the Study of War".
  5. ^ a b c "Israel launches another offensive in Gaza's south amid push for cease-fire | The Spokesman-Review". The Spokesman Review. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Israeli troops launch a new assault into Gaza's Khan Younis as mediators push for cease-fire talks". AP News. 2024-08-09. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  7. ^ "IDF reinvades Khan Yunis for third time after only 8 days". The Jerusalem Post. 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  8. ^ "White House slams Israeli finance minister for opposing Gaza talks". Voice of America. 2024-08-09. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  9. ^ "Real time updates". idf.il. Archived from the original on 6 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "Gallant: IDF withdrawal from Khan Yunis in preparation for Rafah operation". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 7 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Cotovio, Vasco (7 April 2024). "Israeli military says it has withdrawn forces from Khan Younis after months of fighting". CNN. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  14. ^ Al-Mughrabi, Nidal (22 July 2024). "Israel sends tanks back into Khan Younis area, 70 killed after new evacuation order". Reuters. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  15. ^ Rasgon, Adam; Bigg, Matthew Mpoke; Stevenson, Alexandra; Fuller, Thomas (2024-07-23). "Rival Palestinian Factions Project Unity, but Deep Divisions Remain". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-26. The Gazan Health Ministry said that 73 people had been killed by Israel's bombardment of the area on Monday, including 24 children. More than 270 others were injured, some severely, the ministry said.
  16. ^ "At least 39,090 Palestinians killed in Gaza since Oct. 7: Ministry". Al Arabiya. Agence France-Presse. 23 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024. According to the health ministry, the death toll from an Israeli operation launched in Khan Younis on Monday rose to 73, including 24 children and 15 women, with more than 270 wounded.
  17. ^ "Israeli forces quit east Khan Younis, Palestinians recover dozens of bodies". Reuters. 30 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Hamas names mastermind of Oct 7 attacks Yahya Sinwar as new political leader". France 24. 6 August 2024. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  19. ^ a b c "Palestinians Evacuate Khan Yunis In Gaza To Escape Fresh Israeli Operation". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  20. ^ "IDF begins Khan Yunis ground op following intel on presence of Hamas terrorists". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2024-08-09. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  21. ^ IDF announces death of soldier Omer Ginzburg in battle in southern Gaza
  22. ^ IDF officer killed in failed Israeli airstrike in Gaza’s Khan Younis
  23. ^ Clinton, Jane (2024-08-30). "The Israeli military said on Friday it had wrapped up a month-long operation in southern and central Gaza that it said killed more than 250 Palestinian fighters". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  24. ^ "Iran Update, October 4, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  25. ^ "On Oct. 7 anniversary: Hamas rockets slam into central Israel". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  26. ^ "Middle East latest: Palestinian militants in Gaza fire rockets into Israel as it marks Oct. 7". AP News. 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  27. ^ "Israel launches fresh attacks on Khan Younis". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  28. ^ "Iran Update, October 25, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
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