Full report on the situation on the ground in the Gaza Strip (2/2):

Central Governorate & northern Khan Younis Governorate:

The IDF began new ground maneuvers in the central governorate, and crossed the Wadi Gaza River, taking up positions in the buildings near the Salah al-Deen highway, just northwest of the Nuseirat Refugee Camp.

In addition to this, IDF armoured units advanced on a wide front from the Kisfum border crossing, and entered the towns of Al-Maani, Jarara, Al-Qarara and Wadi as Salqa, reaching the Salah al-Deen highway. A large part of Al-Qarara (part of Khan Younis Governorate) was seized under heavy artillery cover. The IDF also entered the southeastern suburbs of the city of Deir al-Balah - an area which has never been operated in during this war. The Saraya al-Quds brigades detonated a field of pre-planted barrel bombs against an Israeli armoured column in Al-Qarara, reportedly killing and wounding some of the Israeli soldiers.

The IDF began demolishing residential buildings in Al-Qarara and southeastern Deir al-Balah. An Israeli airstrike on a stadium in Nuseirat Refugee Camp reportedly killed 15 people, while another airstrike on a residential building in Deir al-Balah reportedly killed 13 people. A second airstrike on Deir al-Balah reportedly killed 5 people including 4 children and infants. Israeli artillery shelling targeted Al-Bureij Refugee Camp, Nuseirat Refugee Camp and Al-Maghazi Refugee Camp, reportedly killing 4 people. Drone strikes on Nuseirat and Deir al-Balah reportedly killed 3 others.

Khan Younis Governorate:

The IDF continued to make quick advances in the direction of Khan Younis city, and captured most of Khirbat Ikhzaa, and part of Khuzaa. The Saraya al-Quds brigades targeted an Israeli Merkava tank in Khuzaa with an RPG, setting it on fire.

Additionally, after withdrawing from the area of the "Ashkelon" School, the IDF re-entered the area and captured the Theima neighbourhood, as well as the town of Al-Fukhari. Further clearing operations were conducted in the town of Umm al-Kilab, in the vicinity of the Salah al-Deen highway.

Heavy artillery shelling and shelling from gunboats targeted Khan Younis city and its surroundings, amid mass displacements of civilians from the governorate towards Al-Mawasi. Artillery shelling on Manara reportedly killed 2 people. Waves of airstrikes and drone strikes targeted areas in and around Khan Younis.

Rafah Governorate:

The IDF continued to clear parts of Rafah under artillery cover. Clearing and demolition operations continued in the Al-Shaboura neighbourhood of Rafah, where the IDF reached Al-Rebat street. In the Al-Tuffah district, the IDF cleared further areas and demolished hundreds more residential buildings in controlled detonations. They are flattening this district block by block.

Additionally, the IDF opened up a new vector of attack, moving towards Khan Younis from the south, entering the town of Qizzan al-Najjur. An airstrike targeted the town of Al-Mawasi, which was designated by Israel as a part of the safe-zone.

The IDF cleared another residential block in the Tal al-Sultan neighbourhood of western Rafah, before flattening every single building there in controlled detonations. Only two blocks remain in the neighbourhood, before the IDF moves on to the "Saudi Neighbourhood" to the north.

Meanwhile in the Al-Janina neighbourhood in eastern Rafah, the IDF cleared further areas up to Magdy Younes Street and further down Deir Yassin Street, before demolishing all of the buildings there except for the school, which is likely being used as either a command-and-control centre or a forward deployment point.