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July 2024 Khan Yunis attack
July 2024 Khan Yunis attack
Part of the second battle of Khan Yunis during the Israel–Hamas war
	Bani Suheila
Location	Bani Suheila, eastern Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip
Date	22 July 2024
Attack type	Airstrikes, tank shelling
Deaths	73
Injured	270+
Perpetrator	Israel Defense Forces Israeli Air Force;

On 22 July 2024, Israel sent tanks and launched airstrikes on eastern Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that 73 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, while more than 270 were injured.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Background

Earlier on 22 July, the Israel Defense Forces issued new evacuation orders after it claimed that there were renewed Palestinian militant attacks and rocket attacks from eastern Khan Yunis. Israel downsized the humanitarian zone where 1.7 million Palestinians took refuge and adjusted its boundaries, reducing it from 65 km² to 48 km².^[1]

Attack

Shortly after having issued the evacuation orders, Israel began its third assault on Khan Yunis, giving little time for Palestinians to find safety. Israeli tanks advanced for more than 2 km into Bani Suheila, forcing civilians to flee under fire.^[4] 73 Palestinians were killed and more than 270 injured by tank shelling and air bombardment in Bani Suheila.^[1]^[5]^[3]

An eyewitness reported that "No one told us to evacuate. They brought four floors crashing down on civilians", while another said that "It is like doomsday, people are fleeing under fire, many are dead and wounded on the roads.^[1]

Aftermath and death toll

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that 73 Palestinians were killed and more than 270 were injured.^[6]^[3]^[5]

According to medics at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, the hospital was overwhelmed with patients, the wounded were being treated on the floor, and the situation was "out of control".^[4] Nasser Hospital urged residents to donate blood due to the large number of casualties being rushed into the medical center.^[1]^[7]

A resident of Gaza who lost several relatives during the attack reported "We are tired. We are tired in Gaza. Every day our children are martyred – every day, every moment".^[4]

Reactions

Domestic

Hamas: Hamas denounced the attack, stating that it would not deter Palestinians from remaining "steadfast in their land".^[4]
Israel: The IDF claimed that the attack was a response to renewed Palestinian militant attacks from eastern Khan Yunis and stated "Since this morning, the IAF and IDF artillery forces have struck more than 30 terror infrastructure sites in Khan Younis, including in the area from which a projectile was launched toward Nirim in southern Israel earlier today".^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Al-Mughrabi, Nidal (22 July 2024). "Israel sends tanks back into Khan Younis area, 70 killed after new evacuation order". Reuters. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
^ Loveluck, Louisa; Hassan, Jennifer (2024-07-23). "Israel orders evacuation of former Gaza safe area; U.N. aid convoy fired on". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
^ ^a ^b ^c Rasgon, Adam; Bigg, Matthew Mpoke; Stevenson, Alexandra; Fuller, Thomas (2024-07-23). "Rival Palestinian Factions Project Unity, but Deep Divisions Remain". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-25. The Gazan Health Ministry said that 73 people had been killed by Israel's bombardment of the area on Monday, including 24 children. More than 270 others were injured, some severely, the ministry said.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "'Like doomsday': 70 killed in Israeli tank shelling, strikes on Khan Younis". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
^ ^a ^b "At least 39,090 Palestinians killed in Gaza since Oct. 7: Ministry". Al Arabiya. Agence France-Presse. 23 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024. According to the health ministry, the death toll from an Israeli operation launched in Khan Younis on Monday rose to 73, including 24 children and 15 women, with more than 270 wounded.
^ Gritten, David (22 July 2024). "Israel orders evacuation of part of Gaza humanitarian zone". BBC. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
^ Michaelson, Ruth; Tantesh, Malak A. (2024-07-23). "Scores killed in Israeli attacks, medics say, after IDF orders evacuation of Gaza humanitarian zone". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-07-23.