11:59 p.m. ET, December 10, 2023
The video shows smoke over Khan Younis as Israeli forces expand operations in the southern Gaza Strip
By CNN's Jessie Gretener, Kareem Khadder, Eyad Kourdi and Dennis Lapin Smoke rises over Khan Younis, Gaza, following Israeli attacks on Sunday, December 10. Mohammed Dahman/AP
On Sunday, a video showed dark clouds of smoke over Khan Younis, providing one of the few visual clues to the situation on the ground in the southern Gaza Strip as Israel expands its operations there.
The Portal footage, broadcast live from the roof of the Nasser Medical Complex in the city, showed heavy smoke on the horizon – and some explosions could be heard in the distance.
Car horns can also be heard in the distance and some movement of people can be seen near the hospital.
Limited communications made it difficult to obtain accurate information from Gaza.
Social media video: CNN also geolocated a video from social media that captured the sound of heavy gunfire in Khan Younis. The video shows an empty street with smoke on the horizon and the sound of gunfire nearby.
Then a woman and a child are seen riding a donkey and pulling a cart with two unconscious bodies lying on it.
CNN cannot verify when this video was recorded.
Hamas claim: Abu Obaida, spokesman for Hamas's military wing, the Qassam Brigades, said on Sunday that his fighters killed and wounded 15 Israeli soldiers in Khan Younis after detonating a “large-bore anti-personnel device.”
CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for comment.
In a statement on Friday, the Israeli military said it continued fighting in Khan Younis, a “main base” of Hamas. The IDF also made what it called an “urgent appeal” for civilians to leave much of the area.
Northern Gaza Strip: Meanwhile, in the north, the Qassam Brigades said on Sunday that its fighters were fighting “fierce battles” with Israeli forces west of the Jabalya refugee camp, where the IDF was closing in.
On Friday, Dr. Munir Al-Bursh, director general of the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza, told CNN that Israeli forces had taken over half of Jabalya camp.