On the morning of May 19, 2025, a special unit of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a risky operation in the Khan Yunis area of ​​the southern Gaza Strip, the goal of which, according to initial reports, was to rescue hostages and capture a high-ranking commander of the Palestinian group. According to The Times of Israel, the operation ended with the elimination of Ahmad Sarhan, a senior member of the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), the third largest terrorist organization in Gaza after Hamas and Islamic Jihad (a terrorist group banned in Russia). However, the IDF denied reports of rescuing hostages, clarifying that this was not the purpose of the mission.

The operation, backed by heavy airstrikes and helicopter support from the Israeli Air Force, began at dawn. According to Palestinian media, Israeli commandos entered the center of Khan Younis undercover, some dressed as women. They arrived at Sarhan’s home, where they killed him and reportedly detained his wife and children, drawing sharp criticism from Hamas. The group’s statement called the IDF’s actions “using hostages as human shields.”

Videos from the scene posted on Palestinian Telegram channels showed intense strikes on Khan Younis, including the Nasser Medical Complex area. According to CGTN, the attacks lasted for about 40 minutes, killing at least six people and wounding 30 others. The attack on the hospital drew condemnation from local authorities, although the IDF claimed the strikes targeted “terrorist sites.”

The operation was part of the IDF's larger campaign, Gideon's Chariots, which began on May 18. According to Al Jazeera, the Israeli army ordered the evacuation of eastern Khan Yunis neighborhoods, including Bani Suheila and Abbasan, warning of an "unprecedented attack." Over the course of the day, the IDF hit more than 160 targets in Gaza, including command centers and anti-tank missile sites.