Click to see full-size image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)
On January 27, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said that its 98th Division advanced in the city of Khan Younis and killed numerous fighters of the Hamas Movement there.
The division’s Commando Brigade directed an airstrike against three Hamas fighters who were attempting to plant explosives devices near the troops, the IDF said in a statement detailing recent operations in Khan Younis.
Meanwhile, the IDF said that the Maglan commando unit raided several Hamas sites in the city, including a weapons depot, and the Egoz commando unit “eliminated many fighters at close range.”
Also in Khan Younis, the Givati Brigade killed “a large number” of Hamas fighters in several separate clashes, according to the IDF.
In one of the encounters, a seven-man Hamas cell that fired rocket-propelled grenades at troops from a building was shelled by an IDF main battle tank, the IDF said , adding that Givati soldiers killed several more fighters in the area.
In another incident in the city, the 7th Armored Brigade spotted a Hamas fighter preparing an observation post to later direct an attack on troops. The IDF said that the soldiers called in an airstrike.
Separately, the IDF released video footage showing strikes on a Hamas cell armed with rocket-propelled grenades in Khan Younis.
Meanwhile, on the Palestinian side, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said on January 27 that 174 Palestinians have been killed in fighting in the Strip in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll since the start of the war to 26,257.
The IDF expanded its operations in Khan Youns in recent days. However, it is yet to fully capture the city. Meanwhile, the United States, Egypt and Qatar are said to be stepping up efforts to broker an agreement between Israel and Hamas that would include a lengthy ceasefire and secure the release of at least some Israeli hostages.
