The Israeli Army has announced that has managed to surround Khan Yunis, the main city in the southern Gaza Strip and one of the main military strongholds of the Islamist group Hamas. “During the last day, Israel Defense Forces troops carried out an extensive operation during which they surrounded Khan Yunis and deepened the operation in the area,” a military statement reported.

The Army explained the ground troops carried out combats “hand to hand” with Hamas menwhile aviation led attacks supported by intelligence to “coordinate fire”, resulting in the “elimination of dozens of terrorists.”

“The forces attacked terrorist cells carrying RPGs and launched anti-tank missiles, as well as terrorist agents who had installed explosives in compounds in the area“added the statement. During the operation, the Army located rockets ready for launch, military installations, tunnel mouths and numerous weapons.

Palestinian media have reported that the Israeli Army, in its offensive inside Khan Younis, laid siege to the city’s two main hospitalsNasser and Al Amal, where there are hundreds of thousands of Gazans displaced and injured.

The Israeli Army undertook its ground offensive towards the south of the Stripto last December 1, when the so far only truce reached with Hamas expired, with Khan Yunis as the main objective, a Hamas bastion in whose tunnels they believe the group’s leaders are hiding.

Israel now has as a priority finding the leader of Hamas inside the Strip, Yahya Sinwar, and the military chief, Mohamed Deif, considered the masterminds of the October 7 attack on Israeli soil, which left more than 1,200 dead and more than 240 kidnapped.

The offensive on Khan Younis has continued for more than a month and a half, as the troops there have encountered strong resistance from the militias of the Gaza Strip, led by the Al Qasam and Al Quds Brigades, armed arms of Hamas and Islamic Jihadrespectively.

The troops are also searching there for some of the 136 hostages remaining inside the Strip, since they suspect that they may be hiding under the tunnels from that city, after having found a few days ago an extensive tunnel with indications that they had been held captive there.

The Army has also reported that 21 soldiers died yesterday in the Strip in two explosions near the border, in the deadliest incident for its troops since the war began, bringing casualties in its ranks to 219.