December 2023 – April 2024 · Southern Gaza Theater
December 2023 – April 2024
Khan Younis — Gaza's second-largest city and Yahya Sinwar's hometown — was the next phase of the IDF campaign after clearing northern Gaza. The battle was fought in heavily built-up residential neighborhoods packed with displaced people from the north. Hamas resistance was fierce and the tunnel network extensive. International pressure over civilian casualties intensified as the death toll climbed past 30,000. The IDF declared the main phase of the Khan Younis battle complete in April 2024 but continued clearing operations.
Commanders