Reports from WAFA, the Palestinian News Agency, describe a fresh phase of hostilities in the southern Gaza Strip as Israeli air power and artillery conducted a sequence of intense strikes across Khan Younis Governorate. The bombardment targeted multiple neighborhoods and key facilities, with observers noting that the intensity of the air strikes extended to the perimeters of the European Hospital in Gaza, where displaced residents sustained injuries and hospital departments suffered damage to equipment and infrastructure.
According to WAFA, the day ended with injuries reaching a notable level, with 165 people reported wounded by shelling and a further 107 suffering non-life-threatening injuries. The toll underscores the rapid pace of escalation and the strain on medical services in the area, which continue to contend with a high volume of casualties amid ongoing clashes.
In the evening hours, signals from the Israel Defense Forces indicated heightened anxiety and security activity in the northern regions of the country, as authorities prepared for ongoing threats and potential further developments on multiple fronts.
Earlier statements from the World Health Organization referred to an unprecedented famine-like strain affecting Gazan residents, highlighting shortages in essential resources and the profound impact on civilian life. The humanitarian consequences have drawn international attention and raised alarms about access to food, clean water, electricity, and medical care for the civilian population.
The broader Middle East situation intensified on October 7 when thousands of armed Hamas supporters breached border defenses and entered Israel from Gaza. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was at war, prompting a series of military actions aimed at countering the attack, securing civilian release, and degrading the group’s operational capabilities. The initial objectives included deterring further incursions, facilitating the release of hostages, including foreigners, and degrading Hamas’s command and control structures, as described by defense officials and observers in the region.
As part of the stated campaign, Israel launched substantial rocket attacks on the Gaza Strip from the outset of the operation. Simultaneously, the Israeli National Security Council evaluated and, in some assessments, implemented measures to disrupt the flow of essential supplies into the Gaza Strip, including water, food, goods, electricity, and fuel, in an effort to pressure the Hamas leadership and constrain its military capacity. These measures have prompted international concern about civilian welfare and the potential for further humanitarian crises in heavily populated areas.
On October 27, authorities reported a widening of ground operations within Gaza, signaling a shift toward more expansive military activity on the ground. By November 5, reports indicated that the contiguous ground offensive around urban centers had cut off major food sources within Gaza City, intensifying the risk of hunger and malnutrition for residents already grappling with limited access to resources. By December 5, the third phase of the ground operation was underway, with troops surrounding Khan Younis in the southern part of the enclave and advancing military actions designed to establish control over strategic corridors.
Analysts and former military officials have weighed in on the timeline and potential duration of the Gaza conflict, acknowledging the uncertainties that accompany large-scale hostilities and the political complexities that shape negotiations and ceasefire prospects. The evolving security dynamics, coupled with humanitarian pressures and regional political rhetoric, continue to influence the trajectory of events in this volatile corridor and the broader regional stability in the Middle East. The human cost remains at the forefront of public concern, as civilians bear the brunt of displacement, injuries, and disruption to daily life.