Israeli troops reached the center of Khan Yunis, the largest city in the southern Gaza Strip, during "the most intense day" of fighting since the start of the ground operation in the enclave, the commander of the IDF’s Southern Command, Yaron Finkelman, said on Tuesday.
On November 24, Qatar brokered an agreement between Israel and Hamas which facilitated the exchange of prisoners and hostages, and ensured the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The truce was extended several times, but expired on December 1, when the Israeli military resumed its offensive against Hamas in Gaza, saying the Palestinian militant group had violated the humanitarian pause. Hamas, in turn, accused the IDF of violating the ceasefire.
More than 16,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the hostilities began.
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