As the Israeli military continues its operation in Gaza’s southern region of Khan Younis, new satellite imagery reveals how far their ground forces may have reached.
At least three areas just north of the city show groups of military vehicles, while visible tracks can also be seen 1.2 miles (2km) from one of the city’s main hospitals in an image taken on Wednesday.
Due to restricted access into Gaza, there has been limited independent visual evidence showing Israel’s ground operation.
In early December, Israel said it expanded its air and ground operation in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, the army now claims it has been fighting in centre of Khan Younis.
Satellite image shows three areas containing Israeli military vehicles north of Khan Younis city. Pic: Planet Labs PBC
Armoured vehicles
At least 10 vehicles can be seen in the yellow box on the far right of the image above in Kaf Elabadla which is around three-and-a-half kilometres north of Khan Younis city.
It’s located just west of the Salah al Din road – one of the main roads running through the Gaza Strip which many Palestinians used to evacuate the north.
The image was taken at 7.33am UTC by Planet Labs PBC. The two boxes below show a closer view of two of the areas.
Two areas where sand banks and vehicles are seen. Pic: Planet Labs PBC
The area on the right shows more vehicles by a sand bank just metres away from where a video IDF posted on 6 December was taken.
The army said the video shows the IDFs special forces division, Division 98, “fighting for the first time” in what they describe as “the heart of Khan Younis”.