Another Strike on Khan Younis Leaves Dozens of Civilian Casualties

The Israeli military carried out a series of airstrikes on the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza during the night of Friday, May 15. According to the local morgue, at least 54 people were killed. This marks the second consecutive night of intense bombardment.

An Associated Press cameraman working in Khan Younis recorded ten strikes on the city. He witnessed bodies being brought to the morgue at Nasser Hospital—some dismembered, with multiple individuals’ remains packed into single body bags.

Among the dead was Al Araby TV journalist Hassan Samour. According to the network, he was killed along with 11 members of his family.

The Israel Defense Forces have not yet commented on the strikes in Khan Younis.

The latest attack followed a wave of heavy bombings on Wednesday, during which at least 70 people were killed—including nearly 20 children—according to Gaza authorities. The strikes hit both the northern and southern parts of the strip.

The bombardments coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the Persian Gulf. The trip does not include a stop in Israel but is accompanied by diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire and resume humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, which has been under blockade since early March.

Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed plans to launch the next phase of the military operation. On Tuesday, his office issued a statement saying: "Israeli forces will enter Gaza with overwhelming strength in a matter of days to finish the mission… This means destroying Hamas."

On the same day, Human Rights Watch expressed concern over the Israeli leadership’s statements and their potential consequences for civilians. The organization’s statement warned that such actions are "edging closer to extermination" and called on states that are parties to the Genocide Convention to intervene to prevent catastrophe.

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants and allied groups attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people. In response, Israel launched a large-scale military campaign during which, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, nearly 53,000 Palestinians have been killed—many of them women and children. The exact number of combatants among the dead remains unknown. Since March 18, when Israel ended its observance of the ceasefire, another 3,000 people have been killed.

Hamas continues to hold 58 of the roughly 250 people it abducted in October. Israeli authorities believe that 23 of them are still alive, though in at least three cases their fate remains a serious concern.

Israel’s military campaign has caused widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and triggered mass displacement: about 90% of Gaza’s population have been forced to flee their homes, many more than once. Deliveries of food and medical supplies were completely halted on March 2. International organizations are warning of impending famine.

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, nearly half a million people are on the brink of starvation, while another one million are barely surviving.

Human Rights Watch states that Israel’s plans to seize territory, block aid deliveries, and destroy essential infrastructure present a situation that demands a response under international law. Israel rejects accusations of genocide.

Human Rights Watch has also called on Hamas to immediately release all remaining hostages.