Israeli troops on Sunday sent tanks into the southern Gaza Strip, where fierce fighting with Hamas militants continues, and medical officials in Gaza said Israeli military strikes on the enclave had killed 66 Palestinians in the past 24 hours. (Updated at 12:00 p.m.)
Israeli tanks advanced into the three towns of Al-Karara, Al-Zanna and Bani Suhaila in the east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, and medics said at least nine Palestinians were killed earlier on Sunday in Israeli military strikes in those areas.
Residents said fierce fighting could be heard in the eastern neighbourhoods of Khan Younis where the military is operating. The new incursions have forced thousands of families to flee their homes to the overpopulated neighbourhoods of Al-Mawasi in the west and Deir Al-Balah in the north.
Later on Sunday, two separate Israeli airstrikes on Khan Younis killed at least 15 Palestinians, medics said.
New casualties in the 11th month of war
A witness said a newborn baby was among the dead in Al-Mawasi near the town of Khan Younis, where tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have taken refuge from the war, now in its 11th month. Israeli troops have been operating in and around Khan Younis since Monday, including in the coastal neighbourhood of Al-Mawasi.
Miriam Al-Astal, who lives in Al-Mawasi, said a newborn baby was killed. She said:
“We were sitting in our tents … when suddenly we heard an explosion. I swear. There were no militants in the area.”
Israel warned on Monday that its troops would “act decisively” in the Khan Younis area, from which troops withdrew in April, and on Saturday the civil defence agency said 170 people had been killed in renewed fighting and military operations. The military said its latest operations were aimed at preventing rocket attacks.
Over the past few days, the Israeli military said the raid in eastern Khan Younis was in response to renewed attacks, including rocket fire, from the areas and to prevent Hamas from regrouping. Dozens of militants were killed in the area and military infrastructure was destroyed, the military said.
Turkey may enter Israeli territory
Meanwhile, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Turkey could enter Israel as it has done in the past in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh, although he did not specify what kind of intervention he envisaged.
Erdogan, a fierce critic of Israel’s offensive on Gaza, spoke of the war during a speech in which he praised his country’s defence industry. Erdogan told a meeting of his ruling AK Party in his hometown of Rize:
“We must be very strong so that Israel can’t do these ridiculous things to Palestine. Just like we entered Karabakh, just like we entered Libya, we might do similar to them. There is no reason why we cannot do this … We must be strong so that we can take these steps.”
The AK Party officials did not return calls seeking more details about Erdogan’s comments. Israel did not immediately comment.
The president was apparently referring to Turkey’s past actions. Turkey sent the military to Libya in 2020 in support of the United Nations-recognised Government of National Accord of Libya.
Turkish Foreign Ministry compared Netanyahu to Hitler and predicted his fate as the leader of Nazi Germany. The agency said in a statement:
“Just as the genocidal Nazis were held accountable, those who seek to destroy the Palestinians will also be held accountable. Humanity will stand with the Palestinians. You will not be able to destroy the Palestinians.”
Erdogan on the conflict in Ukraine
Speaking about the conflict in Ukraine, Erdogan said that “Western warlords” had benefited from the war in Ukraine. The Turkish leader said, whose words were quoted by the Anadolu daily:
“No one has benefited from this bloodshed except the Western warlords. They are pouring oil on the fire and doing everything possible to ignite it.”
And Turkey, he said, has been working to establish peace and stability “since the first day.” He also added:
“We have prevented this fire from spreading to the Black Sea by pursuing a balanced policy and acting justly between our two neighbours.”
Earlier, Erdogan said that only a peace that satisfies both Ukraine and Russia is possible. Turkey, he assured, will continue to make every effort for this.
