Israeli Tanks Advance in Khan Younis Amid Extensive Operations in the West Bank

Israeli army tank units advanced in the center of Khan Younis city in southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, September 7. Reuters reported on Wednesday, September 8, citing some residents of Khan Younis, that the Israeli army ordered residents of the area to evacuate their homes for their safety and move to the east of Khan Younis. According to officials from the Gaza Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, at least 34 people have been killed in Gaza following Israeli army attacks, including 11 in Khan Younis. Officials from this ministry state that over 40,000 people have been killed as a result of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip; however, they refrain from providing figures on the number of militants killed. The Israeli army has stated that thousands of Hamas fighters, a group supported by the Islamic Republic, have been killed in its operations that began after October 15 of last year. Israel has also repeatedly emphasized that Hamas uses civilians as human shields. The war in Gaza began following a terrorist attack by Palestinian militants on Israel on October 15 of last year. Following this attack, at least 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians, were killed by Hamas militants. They also took more than 250 people hostage and brought them to Gaza. Additionally, see: Extensive Israeli army operations in the West Bank; at least 9 Palestinians killed. Palestinian Authority officials announced that on Wednesday, September 7, at least 9 people were killed in extensive operations by Israeli forces involving helicopters and drones in the cities of Jenin and Tulkarem and several other areas in the West Bank. According to Reuters, this operation by the Israeli army is considered one of the largest attacks by the country in recent months in the West Bank and follows smaller attacks in recent weeks. The Israeli army's operations in the West Bank are aimed at confronting Palestinian militant groups including Hamas, a group supported by the Islamic Republic. Reuters reported that the operations in the West Bank are taking place while Israeli forces are engaged with Hamas militants in Gaza and are facing heightened tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon, a group supported by the Islamic Republic in southern Lebanon. Following the Israeli army's operations in Gaza aimed at destroying Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon launched rockets into northern Israel in support of this group, leading to border clashes. According to Reuters, armed branches of three groups—Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah—stated in separate statements that their militants attacked Israeli military vehicles in three areas of the West Bank. Meanwhile, Nadav Shoshani, a spokesperson for the Israeli army, stated that Wednesday's operation was conducted following a significant increase in militant activities in recent months, with over 150 attacks involving gunfire or explosives from the Tulkarem and Jenin areas. He said that based on the army's assessment, there is an 'immediate threat' to civilians, and noted that the operations of Israeli forces are 'part of a broader strategy aimed at neutralizing attacks.' Nadav Shoshani told reporters that this terrorist threat in the West Bank is not new, 'it did not start yesterday and will not end tomorrow.' The Israeli Foreign Minister accused the Islamic Republic of Tehran of attempting to create a terrorist front against Israel in the West Bank based on the Gaza and Lebanon model by financing and equipping terrorists and smuggling weapons from Jordan. Meanwhile, Israel Katz, the Israeli Foreign Minister, wrote on the social media platform 'X' that the army has launched extensive operations in refugee camps in Jenin and Tulkarem since the night of Tuesday, September 6, to 'neutralize Islamic-Iranian terrorist infrastructures' based there. Mr. Katz accused the Islamic Republic of Tehran of 'trying to create a new terrorist front in the east against major population centers in Israel.' The Israeli Foreign Minister emphasized that measures must be taken to address the 'terrorist infrastructure threat in Gaza, including the temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents,' and that 'necessary next steps' must be taken. He wrote that this war is for everything and we must win it. Israel Katz had previously warned on August 13 about the smuggling of Iranian weapons through Jordan to the West Bank. He stated that the Iranian government's efforts to create 'a new terrorist front in the east against major population centers in Israel' has led to a 'serious and dangerous situation.'