| Conflict: | Third Battle of Khan Yunis |
| Place: | Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip |
| Partof: | the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip during the Israel–Hamas war |
| Date: | 9 August 2024 – ongoing |
| Result: | Ongoing |
| Combatant1: |  Israel |
| Combatant2: | Palestinian Islamic Jihad Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades[1] Palestinian Mujahideen Movement[2] |
| Units1: | Israeli Defence Forces
|
| Units2: | Al-Qassam Brigades
Al-Quds Brigades |
| Commander1: | Dan Goldfuss |
| Commander2: | Mohammed Sinwar |
| Casualties1: | Unknown |
| Casualties2: | Unknown |
| Casualties3: | 21+ Palestinian civilians killed |
The Third Battle of Khan Yunis[5] [6] is an ongoing battle in the Israel-Hamas war which began on 9 August 2024. The battle represents the third separate ground operation in Khan Yunis by Israel against Hamas-led Palestinian forces, following the first siege and a brief second battle in the city.
See also: Siege of Khan Yunis, Second Battle of Khan Yunis and Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh. Starting on 1 December 2023, the Israel Defense Forces had launched air raid operations on the city of Khan Yunis, with Israeli Air Force fighter jets striking over 50 targets in the area.[7] These air raids and artillery strikes continued in large numbers.[8] On 7 April, all Israeli forces withdrew from Khan Yunis. In an announcement the same day, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed that Hamas forces has ceased to exist as a military force in Khan Yunis and stated the withdrawal was in preparation for the planned Rafah offensive.[9] However, rockets were fired by Palestinian forces in Khan Yunis immediately after the IDF's withdrawal.[10] White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby claimed it was a "rest and refit" rather than a preparation for a offensive.[11]
A brief eight-day battle occurred in Khan Yunis governorate from 22 July 2024 to 30 July 2024, which included an Israeli attack on Bani Suheila, which resulted in the deaths of 73 Palestinians and more than 270 injured.[12] [13] [14] The battle ended with an Israeli withdrawal, allowing Palestinians to re-enter the city and return to their homes.[15]
Following the Israel-conducted assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar formally replaced Haniyeh as the political head of Hamas on 6 August.[16] Hours prior to the beginning of the battle, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israeli negotiators would be sent to deliberate on a "final" cease-fire proposal urged by President of the United States Joe Biden in conjunction with Egypt and Qatar.[17]
Israeli and American intelligence and military officials both stated their belief that Yahya Sinwar was hiding in Khan Yunis, and reported that their intelligence showed them that Hamas and Hamas infrastructure was collecting in the region. Based on this information, the IDF began plans to begin new operations in the Khan Yunis governorate to target Hamas “command-and-control centers”.
On the eve of the battle on 8 August, residents reported that Israeli forces began distributing leaflets from airplanes telling them to evacuate from Khan Yunis in addition to towns in the eastern region of the Khan Yunis governorate, including Al-Qarara, Al-Salqa, and Bani Suheila.[18] Several thousands of civilians evacuated from Khan Yunis while carrying essential equipment such as tents, blankets, and mattresses.[19] Most evacuees had to walk out of the city on foot due to the low petrol supplies in the region prohibiting most from using vehicles. Agence France-Presse journalists reported that by the dusk of 8 August, the city was fully evacuated of civilians as far as they could see.
The Third Battle of Khan Yunis began on 9 August 2024 with a series of airstrikes from the Israeli Air Force that according to the city's Nasser Hospital, killed at least twenty-one Palestinians. One airstrike struck the residence of the Abu Moamar family and killed a Palestinian television reporter and journalist, while also killing his wife and their three daughters.
Another airstrike hit several tents in the al-Mawasi coastal refugee camp that housed internally displaced people, which killed an Al Aqsa television journalist in addition to another five people. A third strike hit a car in the city.
The 98th Paratroopers Division entered Khan Yunis and began military ground operations targeting Hamas combatants.[20] The Israeli Defense Forces reported that they had conducted airstrikes on thirty targets in Khan Yunis related to Hamas operations, including Hamas troops and weapon storages. The IDF further reported that its ground troops had entered the city to combat Hamas troops while located Hamas tunnels and other associated infrastructure.