Fighting Intensifies in Southern Gaza's Main City
Israeli and Hamas forces engage in intense combat in Khan Younis.
Israel and Hamas engage in house-to-house gunfights in Khan Younis.
Israeli forces and Hamas fighters are locked in house-to-house gun battles in the southern city of Khan Younis. This marks some of the most intense fighting of the ongoing war. The Israeli military estimates that several thousand Hamas fighters have been killed, but these claims have not yet been verified.
Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, head of Israel's southern command, described the fighting as the most intense day since the beginning of the ground operation in late October. Hamas has claimed to have killed 10 Israeli soldiers in the city, but this also cannot be immediately verified.
Gaza's humanitarian crisis worsens amid renewed fighting
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that Gaza's humanitarian crisis is deteriorating rapidly due to the ongoing fighting. Tens of thousands of people in southern Gaza are moving further south in search of safety, and hospitals are suffering further casualties and damage from Israeli bombardment.
Richard Peeperkorn, the WHO's representative in Gaza, stated, "The situation is getting worse by the hour." He also mentioned that there is intensified bombing happening all over Gaza, including in the southern areas of Khan Younis and Rafah.
US pledges $21 million more in aid for Palestinians
Amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has pledged an additional $21 million in aid for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Samantha Power, the administrator of USAID, announced the aid during her visit to Egypt.
Power emphasized the need to provide lifesaving assistance to Gaza, stating that civilians are disproportionately suffering the consequences of the war. She called on every country to do everything in its power to support Gaza during this critical time.
Medical center cares for children returning home after being held hostage
Dr. Yael Mozer-Glassberg, a senior physician at Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, is part of a medical team responsible for the care of children and mothers who were held hostage by Hamas and other militant groups. The team admitted 19 children and 6 women who were kidnapped on October 7 in Israel.
Despite her initial hesitation, Dr. Mozer-Glassberg understood the importance of her role in this national mission. The hospital provided care for the children and mothers during the recent ceasefire period, and they are now working to help them reintegrate into society after their traumatic experience.
