Gaza: Back to Khan Younis, with 55% of the buildings destroyed

Yesterday, thousands of Palestinians returned to Khan Younis following the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza’s second-largest city on Sunday.

The Israeli army has stated that its withdrawal of forces from southern Gaza is merely a regrouping as the military prepares for a potential invasion of Rafah. Following the withdrawal of troops, only two Israeli divisions remain inside Gaza, responsible for maintaining the separation between northern and southern Gaza.

Since the withdrawal of Israeli troops, 84 Palestinian bodies have been discovered in Khan Younis.

Palestinians who have returned to the city have reported, according to the Associated Press, that the city is no longer habitable, with 55 percent of the buildings demolished or damaged.

At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the attack on Rafah, where 1.4 million Palestinians have sought refuge, “will happen” and that “there is a date,” without specifying when that is.

The US, Israel’s closest ally, stated that a ground operation in Rafah would be a mistake and demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians. Meanwhile, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir remarked, “If Netanyahu decides to end the war without a full-scale attack on Rafah, he will not have the support to continue as prime minister.”