Voice of Palestine Radio said today (Wednesday) that 50 people were killed in Israeli army raids on the western areas of the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, according to what was reported by the Arab World News Agency.

Earlier today, the Palestinian Shehab Agency said that the Israeli army carried out a fire belt on Khan Yunis. The agency did not provide further details.

Yesterday (Tuesday), Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adraee revealed that army forces had completely encircled the Khan Yunis area in the southern Gaza Strip, expecting the fierce battles there to intensify in the coming hours.

Adraee explained in statements to the Arab World News Agency that “the forces have completed the entire encirclement of the Khan Yunis area, while forces from the commando squad are attacking the heart of the Khan Yunis area, which is a pivotal and important center of gravity for Hamas militants.”

He pointed out that the Israeli forces called on the residents of some neighborhoods of Khan Yunis and its camp to leave for the Al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Yunis, as it is considered a safe area. Because the army “will expand the scope of the ground operation in Khan Yunis in the coming hours.”