Israeli tanks pushed back into Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza, on Friday, triggering a mass exodus as thousands of residents fled along jam-packed roads. Amid the chaos, Palestinian fighters continued their resistance, engaging Israeli forces from the ruins, according to local residents and military sources.
Families, desperate to escape, left eastern Khan Younis on foot, in vehicles, and even on donkey carts and motorcycle rickshaws, all heavily laden with their belongings. The roads were filled with those seeking safety, despite the uncertainty of where it could be found.
With tensions rising and the possibility of broader conflict involving Israel and Lebanon, leaders from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar are making a last-ditch effort to restart peace talks. These talks, aimed at ending the fighting in Gaza, are set for August 15.
The latest Israeli assault follows months of warfare that have devastated nearly the entire Gaza Strip. Despite previous claims by Israel to have cleared out Hamas fighters, their forces have now returned to areas already battered by conflict.
The military distributed leaflets, instructing residents and displaced individuals in eastern Khan Younis to evacuate, adding to the growing number of people seeking refuge. Many headed towards Al-Mawasi, a coastal area previously designated as a safe zone, though its safety remains uncertain.
“We have no idea where we’re going—maybe to the beach, maybe to Al-Mawasi. There is no safe place here. They’ve already bombed Al-Mawasi, and many were killed. Safety is only with God,” said Ahmed al-Farra, one of the displaced residents.
Um Raed Abu Elyan, another fleeing resident, shared her fears: “We’re running from fire, running with our children in terror. Where will we go? Only God knows. They say to go to humanitarian areas, but there is no safety in Gaza. Everything is destroyed.”
The Israeli military reported hitting numerous Hamas targets in Khan Younis and Rafah, near the Egyptian border, destroying arms depots and killing dozens of fighters. These assaults are part of Israel’s broader campaign against Hamas, which began following an attack on Israeli towns on October 7 that left 1,200 Israelis dead and over 250 taken hostage.
Talks for a ceasefire and hostage release, scheduled for August 15, offer a glimmer of hope, though past efforts have failed to produce lasting peace. Israeli officials confirmed they would send a delegation but offered no further details. Hamas, led by Yahya Sinwar, has yet to comment on the upcoming discussions.
The ongoing conflict has led to nearly 40,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s health officials, with many more feared dead beneath the rubble. Despite Israel’s claims of weakening Hamas, the group continues to mount guerrilla attacks, demonstrating resilience even as Israel braces for potential conflict with Lebanon.
As the situation remains dire, Israeli tanks have also advanced into central Gaza’s Al-Nuseirat, one of the territory’s historic refugee camps. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that Israeli strikes in central and southern Gaza had killed at least eight Palestinians on Friday alone.
