The Israeli Defense Forces launched a coordinated operation to enter the Al Amal district in Khan Younis city this Sunday. Located in southern Gaza, Al Amal has long been considered a stronghold for Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement, as tensions and military activity intensified in the area. The operation followed a pattern seen in recent weeks, with ground movements complemented by air and artillery support designed to disrupt the militants’ key sites and infrastructure.
From the military statement, the IDF described the neighborhood as a nexus for weapons storage and underground activity. They claimed to have encountered a network of weapons depots, underground wells, observation posts, and factories involved in the production of various arms. The encounter reportedly included a heavy exchange of fire, with the army asserting that numerous Hamas fighters were neutralized during the advancing phase. In addition, the forces said they seized a substantial amount of cash, about three million shekels (roughly 758,000 euros), along with intelligence documents belonging to Hamas, purportedly revealing operational plans and organizational logistics.
The military action came as humanitarian concerns deepened around Khan Younis. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that the Al Amal hospital, already under strain, faced a critical situation amid an ongoing siege described as extending over two weeks. On X, the organization highlighted that food supplies for displaced families had run perilously low, fuel reserves were exhausted with the facility unable to operate for at least a week, and a range of medical supplies had run dry. There were warnings of a significant deficiency in essential medicines for chronic conditions, underscoring the broader health impact of the fighting on civilians in the district.
As fighting continued on the ground, the army indicated that another Hamas facility in Khan Younis had been entered this morning. Inside, Israeli forces reportedly confiscated rifles, including AK-47s, ammunition, and pieces of military equipment, along with a grenade launcher. The operation was accompanied by reports of a sniper from Islamic Jihad being killed during the bombardment, noting that multiple militant groups had a presence in the area and were affected by the clashes. The incidents illustrate the volatility of the theatre and the potential for further escalation as security forces pursue weapon networks and leadership targets.
Meanwhile, medical and civil society sources provided grim updates from the battlefield zone. Palestinian health workers described ongoing shelling that struck civilian areas, including a nursery that had become a refuge for families displaced toward eastern parts of the territory. The facility, located near Rafah in the southern Strip, reportedly housed a considerable number of vulnerable people who had sought safety from the surrounding violence. WAFA, the official Palestinian news agency, corroborated the dawn assault, noting that several casualties had occurred, including two children who had sought sanctuary in a kindergarten in Al Salam. The unfolding events have drawn urgent attention to civilian risk and the humanitarian needs of residents caught in the crossfire, prompting calls for safe corridors and sustained aid access for affected communities. [attribution to WAFA and Red Crescent reports]