Day 109: IDF launches major offensive, encircles western Khan Younis

Large forces of the Israeli army’s 98th Division began a major offensive into western Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Monday, the IDF announced, following several days without reports about Israeli advancements in the fighting.

On Tuesday morning, the IDF reported that its forces had completed the encirclement of the western portion of Khan Younis overnight.

Since the start of the operations, which includes the Paratrooper, Givati and 7th Armored Brigades, almost 100 terrorists have been eliminated by the advancing forces, in cooperation with the Air Force.

NEW: Hamas and other Palestinian fighters are likely in the early stages of the reconstitution of their military and governance capabilities in the northern Gaza Strip. 🧵(1/5) pic.twitter.com/aGh9rrZ8xg

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) January 23, 2024

After heavy aerial bombardment of the area in preparation for the ground forces’ advance, the Commando Brigade advanced into the heart of the neighborhood, where intense battles continue.

A spokesman for the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry claim the airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 50 Palestinians and wounded around 100 since Sunday, Reuters reported.

Israeli soldiers have discovered a number of rockets ready for launch, as well as battle positions, tunnel shafts, and many weapons in the area.

The large-scale attack is expected to continue for several days and aims to destroy the West Khan Younis Battalion, one of Hamas’ few units still functioning in the area. The Hamas battalions in northern and eastern Khan Younis were destroyed over the past few weeks during intense battles.

Hundreds of thousands of residents of Gaza fled to the south and sought shelter in Khan Younis at the start of the IDF ground operation in northern Gaza. In its statement, the IDF said it was aware of the presence of many civilians and said it seeks to avoid harm to the areas where civilians are sheltering, along with hospitals.

In central Gaza, the battles to secure the area of the four camps and advance to the town of Deir al-Balah continued, while clean-up operations in the northern Strip remain ongoing.

Three officers in the Paratrooper Brigade were killed on Monday when a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) hit a building they were in.

Later in the day, 21 more soldiers were killed during an incident near the al-Maghazi camp, raising the IDF death toll on Monday to 24 and the overall soldier death toll since the beginning of ground operations in Gaza to 219.