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{{Short description|City in Gaza, Palestine}}
{{Short description|City in Gaza, Palestine}}
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{{pp|small=yes}}
{{About|the city|the nearby refugee camp|Khan Yunis refugee camp}}
{{About|the city|the nearby refugee camp|Khan Yunis refugee camp}}
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{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Infobox settlement
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Khan Yunis
| name = Khan Yunis
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| translit_lang1_type = [[Arabic script|Arabic]]
| translit_lang1_type = [[Arabic script|Arabic]]
| translit_lang1_info = خان يونس
| translit_lang1_info = خان يونس
| translit_lang2 =
| translit_lang2 =
| translit_lang2_type =
| translit_lang2_type =
| translit_lang2_info =
| translit_lang2_info =
| type = [[List of cities in Palestinian Authority areas|Municipality type A (City)]]
| type = [[List of cities in Palestinian Authority areas|City in the Gaza Strip]]
| image_skyline = Khan Yunis panorama.jpg
| image_skyline = Khan Yunis panorama.jpg
| image_caption =
| image_caption =
| image_blank_emblem = KhanYounis_Logo.jpg
| image_blank_emblem = KhanYounis_Logo.jpg
| blank_emblem_type = Municipal Seal of Khan Younis
| blank_emblem_type = Municipal Seal of Khan Younis
| pushpin_map = Palestine
| pushpin_map = Palestine Gaza Strip#Palestine
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Khan Yunis within [[State of Palestine|Palestine]]
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Khan Yunis within [[State of Palestine|Palestine]]
| image_map =
| image_map =
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}}
}}


'''Khan Yunis''' ({{lang-ar|خان يونس ||lit=Caravansary [of] Yonis<ref name="name-ref-anera.org">{{cite web |title=Name Reference - Anera.org |url=https://www.anera.org/stories/anera-in-khan-younis-palestine/}}</ref>}}), also spelled '''Khan Younis''' or '''Khan Yunus''', is a largely destroyed [[city]] in the southern [[Gaza Strip]]; it is the capital of the [[Khan Yunis Governorate]] in the Gaza Strip.
'''Khan Yunis''' ({{lang-ar|خان يونس ||lit=Caravansary [of] Yonis<ref name="name-ref-anera.org">{{cite web |title=Name Reference - Anera.org |url=https://www.anera.org/stories/anera-in-khan-younis-palestine/}}</ref>}}), also spelled '''Khan Younis''' or '''Khan Yunus''', is a Palestinian [[city]] serving as the capital of the [[Khan Yunis Governorate]] in the southern [[Gaza Strip]]. It has been largely destroyed on account of the ongoing [[Israel–Hamas war]].


Before the 14th century, Khan Yunis was a village known as "Salqah". To protect caravans, pilgrims and travellers a vast [[Caravanserai|caravan serai]] was constructed there by the [[emir]] Yūnus an-Nūrūzī in 1387–88, an official of the [[Mamluk Empire]].<ref name=Sharon/>
Before the 14th century, Khan Yunis was a village known as "Salqah". To protect caravans, pilgrims and travellers a vast [[caravanserai]] – today known as [[Barquq Castle]] – was constructed there by the [[emir]] Yūnus an-Nūrūzī in 1387–88, an official of the [[Mamluk Empire]].<ref name=Sharon/>


According to the [[Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics]], Khan Yunis had a population of 205,125 in 2017.<ref name="PrelimCensus2017" /> Khan Yunis, which lies only {{convert|4|km|mi|frac=2|abbr=off|spell=in}} east of the [[Mediterranean Sea]], has a [[semi-arid climate]] with temperature of 30&nbsp;°C maximum in summer and 10&nbsp;°C minimum in winter, with an annual rainfall of approximately {{convert|260|mm|1|abbr=on}}.
According to the [[Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics]], Khan Yunis had a population of 205,125 in 2017.<ref name="PrelimCensus2017" /> Khan Yunis, which lies only {{convert|4|km|mi|frac=2|abbr=off|spell=in}} east of the [[Mediterranean Sea]], has a [[semi-arid climate]] with temperature of 30&nbsp;°C maximum in summer and 10&nbsp;°C minimum in winter, with an annual rainfall of approximately {{convert|260|mm|1|abbr=on}}.
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===Establishment by Mamluks===
===Establishment by Mamluks===
{{main| Barquq Castle}}
Before the 14th century, Khan Yunis was a village known as "Salqah".<ref name=Sharon>Sharon, 1999, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=EPFDU8POrXIC&pg=PA228 228]</ref> To protect caravans, pilgrims and travellers a vast [[Caravanserai|caravan serai]] was constructed there by ''[[emir]]'' Yūnus an-Nūrūzī in 1387–88, an official of the [[Mamluk Empire]].<ref name=Sharon/> The growing town surrounding it was named "Khan Yunis" after him. In 1389 Yunus was killed in battle.<ref>Sharon, 1999, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=EPFDU8POrXIC&pg=PA229 229]</ref> Yunus ibn Abdallah an-Nuruzi ad-Dawadar was the executive secretary ({{transl|ar|[[dawadar]]}}), one of the high-ranking officials of the [[Mamluk Sultanate (Cairo)|Mamluk]] sultan [[Barquq]]. The town became an important center for trade and its weekly Thursday market drew traders from neighboring regions.<ref>Abu-Khalaf, Marwan. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080201045835/http://www.elagha.net/e/index.htm Khan Younis City]. ''El-Agha''. July 2002.</ref>''
Before the 14th century, Khan Yunis was a village known as "Salqah".<ref name=Sharon>Sharon, 1999, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=EPFDU8POrXIC&pg=PA228 228]</ref> To protect caravans, pilgrims and travellers a vast [[Caravanserai|caravan serai]] – today known as [[Barquq Castle]] – was constructed there by ''[[emir]]'' Yūnus an-Nūrūzī in 1387–88, an official of the [[Mamluk Empire]].<ref name=Sharon/> The growing town surrounding it was named "Khan Yunis" after him. In 1389 Yunus was killed in battle.<ref>Sharon, 1999, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=EPFDU8POrXIC&pg=PA229 229]</ref> Yunus ibn Abdallah an-Nuruzi ad-Dawadar was the executive secretary ({{transl|ar|[[dawadar]]}}), one of the high-ranking officials of the [[Mamluk Sultanate (Cairo)|Mamluk]] sultan [[Barquq]]. The town became an important center for trade and its weekly Thursday market drew traders from neighboring regions.<ref>Abu-Khalaf, Marwan. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080201045835/http://www.elagha.net/e/index.htm Khan Younis City]. ''El-Agha''. July 2002.</ref>''


The khan served as resting stop for couriers of the ''[[barid]]'', the Mamluk [[Postal history of Palestine|postal network]] in Palestine and Syria.
The khan served as resting stop for couriers of the ''[[barid]]'', the Mamluk [[Postal history of Palestine|postal network]] in Palestine and Syria.
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===British Mandate===
===British Mandate===
[[File:Khan Yunis 1-2,500 ,1940.jpg|thumb|left|1940 [[Survey of Palestine]] map of Khan Yunis]]
In the [[1922 census of Palestine]] conducted by the [[Mandatory Palestine|British Mandate authorities]], Khan Yunis had a population of 3890 inhabitants (3866 Muslims, 23 Christians, and one Jew),<ref name=Census1922>Barron, 1923, Table V, [[Gaza Subdistrict, Mandatory Palestine|Sub-district of Gaza]], p. [https://archive.org/stream/PalestineCensus1922/Palestine%20Census%20%281922%29#page/n10/mode/1up 8]</ref> decreasing in the [[1931 census of Palestine|1931 census]] to 3811 (3767 Muslims, 41 Christians, and three Jews), in 717 houses in the urban area<ref name=censusP4>Mills, 1932, p. [https://archive.org/details/CensusOfPalestine1931.PopulationOfVillagesTownsAndAdministrativeAreas 4]</ref> and 3440 (3434 Muslims and 6 Christians) in 566 houses in the suburbs.<ref name=censusP5>Mills, 1932, p. [https://archive.org/details/CensusOfPalestine1931.PopulationOfVillagesTownsAndAdministrativeAreas 5]</ref>
In the [[1922 census of Palestine]] conducted by the [[Mandatory Palestine|British Mandate authorities]], Khan Yunis had a population of 3890 inhabitants (3866 Muslims, 23 Christians, and one Jew),<ref name=Census1922>Barron, 1923, Table V, [[Gaza Subdistrict, Mandatory Palestine|Sub-district of Gaza]], p. [https://archive.org/stream/PalestineCensus1922/Palestine%20Census%20%281922%29#page/n10/mode/1up 8]</ref> decreasing in the [[1931 census of Palestine|1931 census]] to 3811 (3767 Muslims, 41 Christians, and three Jews), in 717 houses in the urban area<ref name=censusP4>Mills, 1932, p. [https://archive.org/details/CensusOfPalestine1931.PopulationOfVillagesTownsAndAdministrativeAreas 4]</ref> and 3440 (3434 Muslims and 6 Christians) in 566 houses in the suburbs.<ref name=censusP5>Mills, 1932, p. [https://archive.org/details/CensusOfPalestine1931.PopulationOfVillagesTownsAndAdministrativeAreas 5]</ref>


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Before the [[Suez War]], Khan Yunis was officially administered by the [[All-Palestine Government]], seated in Gaza and later in Cairo. After a fierce firefight, the [[Sherman tank]]s of the IDF 37th Armored Brigade broke through the heavily fortified lines outside of Khan Yunis held by the 86th Palestinian Brigade.<ref name="Varble, Derek page 46">Varble, 2003, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=MrP3kgd4sf8C&pg=PA46 46]</ref> It was the only site in the Gaza strip where the Egyptian army put up any resistance to the Israeli invasion of Gaza, but it surrendered on 3 November 1956.
Before the [[Suez War]], Khan Yunis was officially administered by the [[All-Palestine Government]], seated in Gaza and later in Cairo. After a fierce firefight, the [[Sherman tank]]s of the IDF 37th Armored Brigade broke through the heavily fortified lines outside of Khan Yunis held by the 86th Palestinian Brigade.<ref name="Varble, Derek page 46">Varble, 2003, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=MrP3kgd4sf8C&pg=PA46 46]</ref> It was the only site in the Gaza strip where the Egyptian army put up any resistance to the Israeli invasion of Gaza, but it surrendered on 3 November 1956.


There are conflicting reports of what happened. Israel said that Palestinians were killed when Israeli forces were still facing armed resistance, while the Palestinians said all resistance had ceased by then, and that many unarmed civilians were killed as the Israel troops went through the town and camp, seeking men in possession of arms.<ref name="lat">{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/04/entertainment/la-et-joe-sacco4-2010feb04|title=Joe Sacco produces comics from the hot zones|work=Los Angeles Times|date=February 4, 2010|author=Reed Johnson}}</ref><ref name="un" />
There are conflicting reports of what happened. Israel said that Palestinians were killed when Israeli forces were still facing armed resistance, while the Palestinians said all resistance had ceased by then, and that many unarmed civilians were killed as the Israel troops went through the town and camp, seeking men in possession of arms.<ref name="lat">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-feb-04-la-et-joe-sacco4-2010feb04-story.html|title=Joe Sacco produces comics from the hot zones|work=Los Angeles Times|date=February 4, 2010|author=Reed Johnson}}</ref><ref name="un" />


The killings, dubbed the [[Khan Yunis massacre]], were reported to the UN General Assembly on 15 December 1956 by the Director of the [[United Nations Relief and Works Agency]], Henry Labouisse. According to the report, the exact number of dead and wounded is not known, but the director received lists of names of persons allegedly killed from a trustworthy source, including 275 people, of which 140 were refugees and 135 local residents.<ref name="un">[http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/0/6558f61d3db6bd4505256593006b06be?OpenDocument UNRWA Report to the UN General Assembly November 1&nbsp;– December 14, 1956] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629110942/http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/0/6558f61d3db6bd4505256593006b06be?OpenDocument |date=June 29, 2013 }}.: "The town of Khan Yunis and the Agency's camp adjacent thereto were occupied by Israel troops on the morning of 3 November. A large number of civilians were killed at that time, but there is some conflict in the accounts given as to the causes of the casualties. The Israel authorities state that there was resistance to their occupation and that the Palestinian refugees formed part of the resistance. On the other hand, the refugees state that all resistance had ceased at the time of the incident and that many unarmed civilians were killed as the Israel troops went through the town and camp, seeking men in possession of arms. The exact number of dead and wounded is not known, but the Director has received from sources he considers trustworthy lists of names of persons allegedly killed on 3 November, numbering 275 individuals, of whom 140 were refugees and 135 local residents of Khan Yunis."</ref><ref name="ap">{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/graphic-novel-on-idf-massacres-in-gaza-set-to-hit-bookstores-1.1677|title=Graphic novel on IDF 'massacres' in Gaza set to hit bookstores|work=Haaretz|date=Dec 21, 2009}}</ref>
The killings, dubbed the [[Khan Yunis massacre]], were reported to the UN General Assembly on 15 December 1956 by the Director of the [[United Nations Relief and Works Agency]], Henry Labouisse. According to the report, the exact number of dead and wounded is not known, but the director received lists of names of persons allegedly killed from a trustworthy source, including 275 people, of which 140 were refugees and 135 local residents.<ref name="un">[http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/0/6558f61d3db6bd4505256593006b06be?OpenDocument UNRWA Report to the UN General Assembly November 1&nbsp;– December 14, 1956] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629110942/http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/0/6558f61d3db6bd4505256593006b06be?OpenDocument |date=June 29, 2013 }}.: "The town of Khan Yunis and the Agency's camp adjacent thereto were occupied by Israel troops on the morning of 3 November. A large number of civilians were killed at that time, but there is some conflict in the accounts given as to the causes of the casualties. The Israel authorities state that there was resistance to their occupation and that the Palestinian refugees formed part of the resistance. On the other hand, the refugees state that all resistance had ceased at the time of the incident and that many unarmed civilians were killed as the Israel troops went through the town and camp, seeking men in possession of arms. The exact number of dead and wounded is not known, but the Director has received from sources he considers trustworthy lists of names of persons allegedly killed on 3 November, numbering 275 individuals, of whom 140 were refugees and 135 local residents of Khan Yunis."</ref><ref name="ap">{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/graphic-novel-on-idf-massacres-in-gaza-set-to-hit-bookstores-1.1677|title=Graphic novel on IDF 'massacres' in Gaza set to hit bookstores|work=Haaretz|date=Dec 21, 2009}}</ref>
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In 1967, during the [[Six-Day War]], [[Israel]] occupied Khan Yunis again.
In 1967, during the [[Six-Day War]], [[Israel]] occupied Khan Yunis again.


As a result of the 1993-1995 [[Oslo Accords]], Khan Yunis and most of the Gaza Strip (excluding Israeli settlements and military areas) were placed under the control of the [[Palestinian Authority]].
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Khan Yunis was the site of [[Israel]]i helicopter attacks in August 2001 and October 2002 that left several civilians killed, hundreds wounded and civilian buildings within the vicinity destroyed. It is known as a stronghold of the Palestinian [[Hamas]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=McGreal|first1=Chris|title=Hamas celebrates victory of the bomb as power of negotiation falters |url=https://www.theguardian.com/fromthearchive/story/0,,1680923,00.html|access-date=23 July 2014|work=The Guardian|date=12 September 2005}}</ref>


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Khan Yunis was the site of [[Israel]]i helicopter attacks in August 2001 and October 2002 that left several civilians killed, hundreds wounded and civilian buildings within the vicinity destroyed.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
It is currently an Area A territory in the [[state of Palestine]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

The Palestinian Authority came into control of the entirety of the Strip following the [[Israeli disengagement from Gaza|2005 Israeli disengagement]]. However, following the [[Battle of Gaza (2007)|Battle of Gaza]] in 2007, [[Hamas]] took over the Gaza Strip and established [[Hamas government in the Gaza Strip|its own governmen]]<nowiki/>t in the region.


===Israel–Hamas war===
===Israel–Hamas war===
{{See main|Siege of Khan Yunis|Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip (2023–present)}}
{{See main|Siege of Khan Yunis|Second Battle of Khan Yunis|Third Battle of Khan Yunis}}

During the ongoing [[Israel–Hamas war]], Israel has bombed Khan Yunis along with other cities in the Gaza Strip as part of an offensive against Hamas. The [[Israeli Air Force]] extensively bombed much of the city, including the [[Hamad City]] apartment complex.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bulos |first=Nabih |date=2023-12-04 |title=In Gaza, she sits by her belongings, waiting for her home to be bombed |url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-12-04/gaza-war-restarted-palestinian-civilians-try-to-outrun-israel-military-bombardment |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Moment Israeli strikes hit residential complex in Gaza's Khan Yunis {{!}} AFP |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwWzxzYNfMA |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=www.youtube.com| date=2 December 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-02 |title=Israeli strike destroys prestige Qatar-funded Gaza complex |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231202-israeli-strike-destroys-prestige-qatar-funded-gaza-complex |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=[[France 24]] |language=en}}</ref> Local sources have reported numerous civilian casualties in Khan Yunis as a result of Israeli bombings,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-19 |title=Israeli airstrikes in Nusseirat, Khan Yunis claim 15 innocent lives |url=https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/139398 |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=[[Wafa]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-04 |title= |script-title=ar:شهداء وجرحى في قصف على مدينتي غزة وخان يونس.. والاحتلال يقتل 3 عناصر من الدفاع المدني |url=https://arabicpost.net/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/2023/12/04/%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%81-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9-2/ |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=arabicpost.net |language=ar}}</ref> which Palestinian news agency [[Wafa]] put at "at least 70" as of December 3.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-03 |title=Israel expands ground invasion in Gaza's Khan Younis |url=https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/139804 |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=[[Wafa]]}}</ref> The [[Al Qarara Cultural Museum]] was destroyed in an explosion as a result of an Israeli attack in October 2023, part of an offensive that reportedly targeted civilian homes and mosques in the vicinity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-18 |title=خسائر كبيرة في قطاع الثقافة الفلسطينية جراء العدوان الإسرائيلي على غزة |url=https://www.cairo24.com/1885559 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018205004/https://www.cairo24.com/1885559 |archive-date=2023-10-18 |access-date=2023-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-18 |title=استهداف البشر والحجر والكلمة.. قصص تدمير أشهر المؤسسات الثقافية في غزة - البوابة نيوز |url=https://www.arabianews24.net/a/917847 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018205046/https://www.arabianews24.net/a/917847 |archive-date=2023-10-18 |access-date=2023-11-05}}</ref> Israeli armored units began entering the outskirts of the city [[Battle of Khan Yunis|in December 2023]]. After several months of fighting, Israeli forces ended up withdrawing from Khan Yunis and most of the southern Gaza Strip.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Picheta |first=Vasco Cotovio, Rob |date=2024-04-07 |title=Israeli military says it has withdrawn forces from Khan Younis after months of fighting |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/07/middleeast/israel-khan-younis-withdrawal-gaza-intl/index.html |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Adler |first=Edna Mohamed,Nils |title=Israel's war on Gaza updates: Israel says troops moved for new operations |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/4/7/israels-war-on-gaza-live-protests-call-for-ceasefire-ahead-of-cairo-talks |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-07 |title=IDF ends active ground invasion, completely withdraws from southern Gaza |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-795724 |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}</ref>
During the ongoing Israel–Hamas war, Israel has bombed Khan Yunis along with other cities in the Gaza Strip as part of an offensive against Hamas. The [[Israeli Air Force]] extensively bombed much of the city, including the [[Hamad City]] apartment complex.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bulos |first=Nabih |date=2023-12-04 |title=In Gaza, she sits by her belongings, waiting for her home to be bombed |url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-12-04/gaza-war-restarted-palestinian-civilians-try-to-outrun-israel-military-bombardment |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Moment Israeli strikes hit residential complex in Gaza's Khan Yunis {{!}} AFP |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwWzxzYNfMA |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=www.youtube.com| date=2 December 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-02 |title=Israeli strike destroys prestige Qatar-funded Gaza complex |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231202-israeli-strike-destroys-prestige-qatar-funded-gaza-complex |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=[[France 24]] |language=en}}</ref> Local sources have reported numerous civilian casualties in Khan Yunis as a result of Israeli bombings,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-19 |title=Israeli airstrikes in Nusseirat, Khan Yunis claim 15 innocent lives |url=https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/139398 |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=[[Wafa]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-04 |title= |script-title=ar:شهداء وجرحى في قصف على مدينتي غزة وخان يونس.. والاحتلال يقتل 3 عناصر من الدفاع المدني |url=https://arabicpost.net/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/2023/12/04/%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%81-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9-2/ |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=arabicpost.net |language=ar}}</ref> which Palestinian news agency [[Wafa]] put at "at least 70" as of December 3.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-03 |title=Israel expands ground invasion in Gaza's Khan Younis |url=https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/139804 |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=[[Wafa]]}}</ref> The [[Al Qarara Cultural Museum]] was destroyed in an explosion as a result of an Israeli attack in October 2023, part of an offensive that reportedly targeted civilian homes and mosques in the vicinity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-18 |title=خسائر كبيرة في قطاع الثقافة الفلسطينية جراء العدوان الإسرائيلي على غزة |url=https://www.cairo24.com/1885559 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018205004/https://www.cairo24.com/1885559 |archive-date=2023-10-18 |access-date=2023-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-18 |title=استهداف البشر والحجر والكلمة.. قصص تدمير أشهر المؤسسات الثقافية في غزة - البوابة نيوز |url=https://www.arabianews24.net/a/917847 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018205046/https://www.arabianews24.net/a/917847 |archive-date=2023-10-18 |access-date=2023-11-05}}</ref> Israeli armored units began entering the outskirts of the city [[Siege of Khan Yunis|in December 2023]]. After several months of fighting, Israeli forces ended up withdrawing from Khan Yunis and most of the southern Gaza Strip.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Picheta |first=Vasco Cotovio, Rob |date=2024-04-07 |title=Israeli military says it has withdrawn forces from Khan Younis after months of fighting |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/07/middleeast/israel-khan-younis-withdrawal-gaza-intl/index.html |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Adler |first=Edna Mohamed,Nils |title=Israel's war on Gaza updates: Israel says troops moved for new operations |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/4/7/israels-war-on-gaza-live-protests-call-for-ceasefire-ahead-of-cairo-talks |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-07 |title=IDF ends active ground invasion, completely withdraws from southern Gaza |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-795724 |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}</ref> Having failed to root out Hamas from Khan Yunis,<ref>{{cite web |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |date=7 April 2024 |title=Five rockets fired from Khan Younis at Gaza border communities, hours after IDF withdraws ground troops |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/five-rockets-fired-from-khan-younis-at-gaza-border-communities-hours-after-idf-withdraws-ground-troops/ |access-date=7 April 2024 |work=The Times of Israel}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=IRAN UPDATE, APRIL 7, 2024 |url=http://dev-isw.bivings.com/ |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=Institute for the Study of War |language=en}}</ref> Israeli forces began [[Second Battle of Khan Yunis|a second invasion of the city]] in late July 2024, which also ended in an Israeli withdrawal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 July 2024 |title=Israeli forces quit east Khan Younis, Palestinians recover dozens of bodies |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-forces-quit-east-khan-younis-palestinians-recover-dozens-bodies-2024-07-30/ |website=Reuters}}</ref> Israeli forces [[Third Battle of Khan Yunis|invaded Khan Yunis yet again]] in August 2024, and withdrew once more at the end of the month.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Clinton |first=Jane |date=2024-08-30 |title=The Israeli military said on Friday it had wrapped up a month-long operation in southern and central Gaza that it said killed more than 250 Palestinian fighters. |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/aug/30/middle-east-crisis-live-israel-hamas-gaza-polio-latest-news?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with:block-66d1b5c28f08eed33c6408e8#block-66d1b5c28f08eed33c6408e8 |access-date=2024-08-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |quote=}}</ref>


==Economy==
==Economy==
Line 125: Line 130:
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
*[[Mohammed Shabir]] (1946 – 2023), former president of [[The Islamic University in Gaza]]
*[[Mohammed Shabir]] (1946 – 2023), former president of [[The Islamic University in Gaza]]
*[[Yahya Sinwar]] (born 1962), a Palestinian politician and (following the [[Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh]] in July 2024) Chairman of the Political Bureau of [[Hamas]], the Sunni Islamist political and military organization that has been the [[2006 Palestinian legislative election|elected government of the Gaza Strip since 2006]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hamas names Yahya Sinwar as new leader after Ismail Haniyeh's killing |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/6/hamas-names-yahya-sinwar-as-new-leader-after-ismail-haniyehs-killing |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en |archive-date=6 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806181830/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/6/hamas-names-yahya-sinwar-as-new-leader-after-ismail-haniyehs-killing |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Yahya Sinwar]] (born 1962), a Palestinian politician who has been leader of Hamas, the Sunni Islamist political and military organization that rules the Gaza Strip, since 2017.


==International relations==
==International relations==

Revision as of 10:13, 28 September 2024

This article is about the city. For the nearby refugee camp, see Khan Yunis refugee camp.

Khan Yunis
City in the Gaza Strip
Arabic transcription(s)
 • Arabicخان يونس
Official logo of Khan Yunis
Municipal Seal of Khan Younis
Khan Yunis is located in Gaza Strip
Khan Yunis
Khan Yunis
Location of Khan Yunis within Palestine
Khan Yunis is located in State of Palestine
Khan Yunis
Khan Yunis
Khan Yunis (State of Palestine)
Coordinates: 31°20′40″N 34°18′11″E / 31.34444°N 34.30306°E / 31.34444; 34.30306
Palestine grid83/83
State State of Palestine
GovernorateKhan Yunis
Founded1387
Government
 • TypeCity
 • Head of MunicipalityMuhammad Jawad Abd al-Khaliq al-Farra
Area
 • Total54,560 dunams (54.56 km2 or 21.07 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)[1]
 • Total205,125
 • Density3,800/km2 (9,700/sq mi)
Name meaning"Caravansary [of] Jonah"

Khan Yunis (Template:Lang-ar), also spelled Khan Younis or Khan Yunus, is a Palestinian city serving as the capital of the Khan Yunis Governorate in the southern Gaza Strip. It has been largely destroyed on account of the ongoing Israel–Hamas war.

Before the 14th century, Khan Yunis was a village known as "Salqah". To protect caravans, pilgrims and travellers a vast caravanserai – today known as Barquq Castle – was constructed there by the emir Yūnus an-Nūrūzī in 1387–88, an official of the Mamluk Empire.[2]

According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Khan Yunis had a population of 205,125 in 2017.[1] Khan Yunis, which lies only four kilometres (2+1⁄2 miles) east of the Mediterranean Sea, has a semi-arid climate with temperature of 30 °C maximum in summer and 10 °C minimum in winter, with an annual rainfall of approximately 260 mm (10.2 in).

History

The southern part of the historic khan at Khan Yunis, 1930s

Ancient period

Herodotus describes a city named Ienysos (Template:Lang-grc) located between Lake Serbonis and Kadytis (modern Gaza city). He talks about how the Persian military marched through the location on its way to Egypt. He also describes how the coastal area between Kadytis and Ienysos was inhabited by local Arab tribes. Some sources, due to phonological resemblance of the names and due to the general matching of the geographic locations, associate this site with modern Khan Yunis.[3]

Other sources have suggested a further inland location of "Khirbet Ma'in Abu Sitta" (Palestinian village depopulated in 1949, near modern kibbutz of Nir Oz)[4] or the Egyptian town of Arish as possible locations of Ienysos, but there is no clear evidence to support this identification.[3][5]

Ancient discoveries in Khan Yunis feature a lintel with a Greek inscription, discovered repurposed in the tomb of Sheikh Hamada. The inscription translates to: 'Hilarion - giving thanks to St. Georgius.' Originally housed in the Musée de Notre Dame de France in Jerusalem, the lintel is currently lost.[6]

Establishment by Mamluks

Main article: Barquq Castle

Before the 14th century, Khan Yunis was a village known as "Salqah".[2] To protect caravans, pilgrims and travellers a vast caravan serai – today known as Barquq Castle – was constructed there by emir Yūnus an-Nūrūzī in 1387–88, an official of the Mamluk Empire.[2] The growing town surrounding it was named "Khan Yunis" after him. In 1389 Yunus was killed in battle.[7] Yunus ibn Abdallah an-Nuruzi ad-Dawadar was the executive secretary (dawadar), one of the high-ranking officials of the Mamluk sultan Barquq. The town became an important center for trade and its weekly Thursday market drew traders from neighboring regions.[8]

The khan served as resting stop for couriers of the barid, the Mamluk postal network in Palestine and Syria.

Ottoman period

In late 1516 Khan Yunis was the site of a minor battle in which the Egypt-based Mamluks were defeated by Ottoman forces under the leadership of Sinan Pasha. The Ottoman sultan Selim I then arrived in the area where he led the Ottoman army across the Sinai Peninsula to conquer Egypt.[9] During the 17th and 18th centuries the Ottomans assigned an Asappes garrison associated with the Cairo Citadel to guard the fortress at Khan Yunis.[10]

Pierre Jacotin named the village Kan Jounes on his map from 1799,[11] while in 1838, Robinson noted Khan Yunas as a Muslim village located in the Gaza district.[12] In 1863 French explorer Victor Guérin visited Khan Yunis. He found it had about a thousand inhabitants, and that many fruit trees, especially apricots were planted in the vicinity.[13]

At the end of the 19th-century the Ottomans established a municipal council to administer the affairs of Khan Yunis, which had become the second largest town in the Gaza District after Gaza itself.[14]

British Mandate

1940 Survey of Palestine map of Khan Yunis

In the 1922 census of Palestine conducted by the British Mandate authorities, Khan Yunis had a population of 3890 inhabitants (3866 Muslims, 23 Christians, and one Jew),[15] decreasing in the 1931 census to 3811 (3767 Muslims, 41 Christians, and three Jews), in 717 houses in the urban area[16] and 3440 (3434 Muslims and 6 Christians) in 566 houses in the suburbs.[17]

Khan Yunis 1931 1:20,000

In the 1938 village statistics, the population is listed as 4,379 (including three Jews) with 3,953 in nearby suburbs.[18] In the 1945 statistics, Khan Yunis had a population of 11,220 (11,180 Muslims and 40 Christians),[19] with 2,302 (urban) and 53,820 (rural) dunams of land, according to an official land and population survey.[20] Of this, 4,172 dunams were plantations and irrigable land, 23,656 used for cereals,[21] while 1,847 dunams were built-up land.[22]

Khan Yunis 1945 1:250,000

During the Nazi occupation of the Dodecanese, many Greeks from Dodecanese islands such as Kastelorizo sought refuge in the nearby Nuseirat Camp.

1948–1967

During the night of 31 August 1955, three Israeli paratroop companies attacked the British-built Tegart fort in Khan Yunis from where attacks had been carried out against Israelis.[23] The police station, a petrol station and several buildings in the village of Abasan were destroyed, as well as railway tracks and telegraph poles. In heavy fighting, 72 Egyptian soldiers were killed. One Israeli soldier was killed and 17 were wounded. The operation led to a ceasefire on September 4, forcing President Gamal Abdel Nasser and the Egyptian government to halt Palestinian fedayeen operations against Israel.[24] One of the mechanized companies was commanded by Rafael Eitan.[23][25]

Before the Suez War, Khan Yunis was officially administered by the All-Palestine Government, seated in Gaza and later in Cairo. After a fierce firefight, the Sherman tanks of the IDF 37th Armored Brigade broke through the heavily fortified lines outside of Khan Yunis held by the 86th Palestinian Brigade.[26] It was the only site in the Gaza strip where the Egyptian army put up any resistance to the Israeli invasion of Gaza, but it surrendered on 3 November 1956.

There are conflicting reports of what happened. Israel said that Palestinians were killed when Israeli forces were still facing armed resistance, while the Palestinians said all resistance had ceased by then, and that many unarmed civilians were killed as the Israel troops went through the town and camp, seeking men in possession of arms.[27][28]

The killings, dubbed the Khan Yunis massacre, were reported to the UN General Assembly on 15 December 1956 by the Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, Henry Labouisse. According to the report, the exact number of dead and wounded is not known, but the director received lists of names of persons allegedly killed from a trustworthy source, including 275 people, of which 140 were refugees and 135 local residents.[28][29]

After 1959, the All-Palestine Government of Gaza Strip was abolished and the city was included in the United Arab Republic, which was shortly disestablished and the Gaza Strip came under the direct Egyptian military occupation rule.

1967 and aftermath

The Kaware house in after bombing in 2014, see Kaware family home

In 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israel occupied Khan Yunis again.

As a result of the 1993-1995 Oslo Accords, Khan Yunis and most of the Gaza Strip (excluding Israeli settlements and military areas) were placed under the control of the Palestinian Authority.

Khan Yunis was the site of Israeli helicopter attacks in August 2001 and October 2002 that left several civilians killed, hundreds wounded and civilian buildings within the vicinity destroyed.[citation needed]

The Palestinian Authority came into control of the entirety of the Strip following the 2005 Israeli disengagement. However, following the Battle of Gaza in 2007, Hamas took over the Gaza Strip and established its own government in the region.

Israel–Hamas war

Main articles: Siege of Khan Yunis, Second Battle of Khan Yunis, and Third Battle of Khan Yunis

During the ongoing Israel–Hamas war, Israel has bombed Khan Yunis along with other cities in the Gaza Strip as part of an offensive against Hamas. The Israeli Air Force extensively bombed much of the city, including the Hamad City apartment complex.[30][31][32] Local sources have reported numerous civilian casualties in Khan Yunis as a result of Israeli bombings,[33][34] which Palestinian news agency Wafa put at "at least 70" as of December 3.[35] The Al Qarara Cultural Museum was destroyed in an explosion as a result of an Israeli attack in October 2023, part of an offensive that reportedly targeted civilian homes and mosques in the vicinity.[36][37] Israeli armored units began entering the outskirts of the city in December 2023. After several months of fighting, Israeli forces ended up withdrawing from Khan Yunis and most of the southern Gaza Strip.[38][39][40] Having failed to root out Hamas from Khan Yunis,[41][42] Israeli forces began a second invasion of the city in late July 2024, which also ended in an Israeli withdrawal.[43] Israeli forces invaded Khan Yunis yet again in August 2024, and withdrew once more at the end of the month.[44]

Economy

Khan Yunis is the second largest urban area in the Gaza Strip after Gaza City. It serves as the principal market center of the territory's southern half and hosts a weekly Bedouin souk ("open-air market") mostly involving local commodities.[45] As of 2012 Khan Yunis had the highest unemployment rate in the Palestinian territories.[46]

Education

Notable people

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Palestine
Khan Yunis beach

Twin towns – sister cities

Khan Yunis is twinned with the following cities:

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Preliminary Results of the Population, Housing and Establishments Census, 2017 (PDF). Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) (Report). State of Palestine. February 2018. pp. 64–82. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  2. ^ a b c Sharon, 1999, p. 228
  3. ^ a b Retsö, J. (2014). The Arabs in antiquity: Their history from the Assyrians to the Umayyads - "Chapter 9: The Age of the Achaemenids - Herodotus of Halicarnassus". Routledge.
  4. ^ Abu-Sitta, S. H. (2017). Mapping my return: A Palestinian memoir. American University in Cairo Press.
  5. ^ Verreth, Herbert (2006). The northern Sinai from the 7th century BC till the 7th century AD. A guide to the sources. Vol. 1. Leuven. p. 263.
  6. ^ "XXXVIII. Khan Yunis", Volume 3 South Coast: 2161-2648, De Gruyter, pp. 569–570, 2014-07-14, doi:10.1515/9783110337679.569, ISBN 978-3-11-033767-9, retrieved 2024-02-25
  7. ^ Sharon, 1999, p. 229
  8. ^ Abu-Khalaf, Marwan. Khan Younis City. El-Agha. July 2002.
  9. ^ Pitcher, p. 105.
  10. ^ Hathaway, 2002, p. 38
  11. ^ Karmon, 1960, p. 173 Archived 2019-12-22 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Robinson and Smith, vol 3, 2nd appendix, p. 117
  13. ^ Guérin, 1869, p.226 ff, pp. 249-250, p. 251
  14. ^ Feldman, 2008, p. 21
  15. ^ Barron, 1923, Table V, Sub-district of Gaza, p. 8
  16. ^ Mills, 1932, p. 4
  17. ^ Mills, 1932, p. 5
  18. ^ Village Statistics (PDF). 1938. p. 64.
  19. ^ Department of Statistics, 1945, p. 31
  20. ^ Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 46
  21. ^ Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 87
  22. ^ Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 137
  23. ^ a b Katz, 1988, p. 10
  24. ^ Derori, 2005, p. 142
  25. ^ Morris, 1993, p. 350
  26. ^ Varble, 2003, p. 46
  27. ^ Reed Johnson (February 4, 2010). "Joe Sacco produces comics from the hot zones". Los Angeles Times.
  28. ^ a b UNRWA Report to the UN General Assembly November 1 – December 14, 1956 Archived June 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.: "The town of Khan Yunis and the Agency's camp adjacent thereto were occupied by Israel troops on the morning of 3 November. A large number of civilians were killed at that time, but there is some conflict in the accounts given as to the causes of the casualties. The Israel authorities state that there was resistance to their occupation and that the Palestinian refugees formed part of the resistance. On the other hand, the refugees state that all resistance had ceased at the time of the incident and that many unarmed civilians were killed as the Israel troops went through the town and camp, seeking men in possession of arms. The exact number of dead and wounded is not known, but the Director has received from sources he considers trustworthy lists of names of persons allegedly killed on 3 November, numbering 275 individuals, of whom 140 were refugees and 135 local residents of Khan Yunis."
  29. ^ "Graphic novel on IDF 'massacres' in Gaza set to hit bookstores". Haaretz. Dec 21, 2009.
  30. ^ Bulos, Nabih (2023-12-04). "In Gaza, she sits by her belongings, waiting for her home to be bombed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  31. ^ "Moment Israeli strikes hit residential complex in Gaza's Khan Yunis | AFP". www.youtube.com. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  32. ^ "Israeli strike destroys prestige Qatar-funded Gaza complex". France 24. 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  33. ^ "Israeli airstrikes in Nusseirat, Khan Yunis claim 15 innocent lives". Wafa. 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  34. ^ شهداء وجرحى في قصف على مدينتي غزة وخان يونس.. والاحتلال يقتل 3 عناصر من الدفاع المدني. arabicpost.net (in Arabic). 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  35. ^ "Israel expands ground invasion in Gaza's Khan Younis". Wafa. 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  36. ^ "خسائر كبيرة في قطاع الثقافة الفلسطينية جراء العدوان الإسرائيلي على غزة". 2023-10-18. Archived from the original on 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  37. ^ "استهداف البشر والحجر والكلمة.. قصص تدمير أشهر المؤسسات الثقافية في غزة - البوابة نيوز". 2023-10-18. Archived from the original on 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  38. ^ Picheta, Vasco Cotovio, Rob (2024-04-07). "Israeli military says it has withdrawn forces from Khan Younis after months of fighting". CNN. Retrieved 2024-04-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  39. ^ Adler, Edna Mohamed,Nils. "Israel's war on Gaza updates: Israel says troops moved for new operations". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-04-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  40. ^ "IDF ends active ground invasion, completely withdraws from southern Gaza". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2024-04-07. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  41. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (7 April 2024). "Five rockets fired from Khan Younis at Gaza border communities, hours after IDF withdraws ground troops". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  42. ^ "IRAN UPDATE, APRIL 7, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  43. ^ "Israeli forces quit east Khan Younis, Palestinians recover dozens of bodies". Reuters. 30 July 2024.
  44. ^ Clinton, Jane (2024-08-30). "The Israeli military said on Friday it had wrapped up a month-long operation in southern and central Gaza that it said killed more than 250 Palestinian fighters". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  45. ^ Thomas, p. 382.
  46. ^ Irving, p. 230.
  47. ^ University College of Science and Technology Archived 2014-02-02 at the Wayback Machine
  48. ^ "Hamas names Yahya Sinwar as new leader after Ismail Haniyeh's killing". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-06.

Bibliography

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