Overnight and into Sunday, heavy bombardment was reported around Khan Younis and the southern city of Rafah in Gaza. The Israeli military announced that its ground offensive had expanded to all parts of Gaza, including the southern region. The military also ordered additional evacuations in the crowded south and asserted that its operations against the Hamas terrorist group would be as robust as those in the north.
Hamas reported that its fighters clashed with Israeli troops about 2 kilometers (1 mile) from the southern city of Khan Younis. Although the Israeli military had previously ordered evacuations in and near the city, no new southern ground assault had been announced. The spokesperson for the Israeli military stated that the ground operation continues to target Hamas centers across the Gaza Strip, with encounters with terrorists resulting in their elimination.
The Yemen-based Iran-allied Houthi movement claimed responsibility for attacking two Israeli ships in the Red Sea with an armed drone and missile, as a show of support for Hamas. The Pentagon acknowledged reports of an attack on the American warship USS Carney but did not provide details. Israel and the United States did not independently verify the attacks or their impact, if any.
Israel’s government spokesperson indicated that over 400 targets, including extensive aerial attacks in the Khan Younis area, were struck by the military. Additionally, Hamas terrorists were reportedly killed and their infrastructure destroyed in Beit Lahiya in the north. Following the end of a seven-day ceasefire on Friday, the renewed fighting resulted in an escalation of hostilities.
Since the outbreak of warfare in early October, more than 15,523 people have been killed, according to the Hamas controlled health ministry. The devastating escalation of violence is the deadliest confrontation in the decades-old Israel-Palestinian conflict. The Israeli military has consistently aimed its attacks at Hamas military strongholds while urging civilians to seek safety in designated zones to facilitate humanitarian assistance.