Israel mounts fiercest fighting in Gaza's Khan Younis, killing dozens

Israeli forces have intensified their assault on the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, storming medical centers and killing dozens of Palestinians, in their fiercest fighting in the area thus far, Israeli and Palestinian sources said on Monday, reported Xinhua.

Israeli tanks surrounded the city's Al-Amal Hospital, imposing a siege, while troops stormed another one, the Al-Khair Hospital, arresting medical staff. In a statement, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) expressed deep concern over the safety of its teams "trapped inside" the Al-Amal Hospital.

The PRCS also reported an unspecified number of casualties among displaced people due to Israeli bombings at shelter centers.

At least 50 Palestinians were killed, and 100 others injured in the strikes on Khan Younis over the past day, the Gaza-based Health Ministry Spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra told Al Jazeera TV news. Many others are feared to be trapped under the rubble, unable to be reached by rescue teams.

At least 25,295 Palestinians, mostly women, children, and the elderly, have been killed by the Israeli strikes on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, the Gaza-based Health Ministry updated Monday.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed in a statement that it launched "a combined attack" of four brigades on western Khan Younis, adding that the forces were closing in on the city's refugee camp.

"The divisional attack will continue for several more days," IDF said, adding it "will include raids and other military operations to dismantle the military infrastructure of Hamas in the region."

At nightfall, the army announced in a statement that three officers from the Paratroopers Brigade were killed, including a deputy battalion commander, a company commander, and a platoon commander.

According to official Israeli figures, a total of 198 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the country waged a war against Hamas, following the Hamas-led assault on southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, were killed and more than 200 were taken as hostages to Gaza.

In Jerusalem, dozens of supporters and relatives of hostages barged into a meeting at the Israeli parliament, demanding more action to free captives from Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported that Israel has been discussing a new ceasefire deal with Qatari mediators. The proposal includes the release of civilian hostages in exchange for "a significant" period of ceasefire and the release of additional Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, reported Kan, citing Israeli officials.

Hamas, which demands an end to the Gaza conflict in exchange for the release of more Israeli hostages, has yet to respond to the proposal.