85% of Khan Younis destroyed, City struggles under massive ruin

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
Today 15:13
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Khan Younis officials report severe infrastructure damage in the aftermath of the Israeli genocide, warning of escalating health and environmental risks.

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Forcibly displaced Palestinians walk through an area surrounded by destroyed buildings in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, after a pause in Israeli genocide. (AP)

The Khan Younis Municipality announced on Saturday that 85% of the city has been destroyed as a result of the Israeli genocide, with an estimated 400,000 tons of rubble requiring removal from streets and neighborhoods.

Speaking at a press conference, the mayor of Khan Younis detailed the scale of devastation, noting that 300 kilometers of water networks have been completely destroyed, while 75% of the city’s sewage system has sustained severe damage, worsening both health and environmental conditions for residents.

The municipality is also grappling with an accumulation of over 350,000 tons of waste, a crisis compounded by severely limited resources and increasingly hazardous working conditions.

The mayor reported that only nine municipal teams are currently operational, working to clear blocked roads and critical access points. However, he emphasized that their efforts are at risk of stalling due to a shortage of diesel fuel.

He further stressed the urgent need for modern machinery capable of clearing rubble and heavy debris, as well as new power generators to replace those that have been destroyed or rendered inoperable during the attacks.

Trump to visit 'Israel', Egypt, confirms next step on Gaza

Earlier today, US President Donald Trump announced that a consensus has been reached on the next stages of the Gaza plan, revealing that he will soon visit "Israel" to address the Knesset, followed by a trip to Egypt.

Trump revealed that the next stages of the Gaza ceasefire plan have been confirmed, including the return of Israeli captives.

According to Trump, the deal guarantees the return of Israeli captives on Monday, along with the recovery of approximately 28 bodies.

Trump also claimed that Gaza would be rebuilt with international support, specifically through the contributions of wealthy countries.

83% of Gaza City structures destroyed

The United Nations has said that the Israeli war devastated Gaza City, further exacerbating an already severe humanitarian crisis. Furthermore, satellite imagery indicated widespread destruction across the city.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told a news conference on Thursday that “many people are unable to leave the north due to insecurity” and described forcibly displaced Palestinians“sleeping out in the open and struggling to survive, amid severe food and shelter shortages.”

According to Dujarric, “Today, the UN Satellite Centre published a preliminary analysis showing that the extent of damage in Gaza City alone encompasses 83% of the structures. About 81,000 housing units have been damaged.”

On Tuesday, Israeli occupation forces intensified their campaign of destruction across Gaza City, carrying out massive demolitions and bombardments that have left entire neighborhoods in ruins and civilians trapped under siege.

According to Al Mayadeen's correspondent in the Gaza Strip, the IOF detonated three armored vehicles loaded with tonnes of explosives to destroy homes in the al-Maghribi area of the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City. The explosions leveled several residential blocks and displaced dozens of families.

The correspondent added that Israeli forces conducted large-scale demolition operations in the al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, while surrounding several neighborhoods where residents remain trapped, a situation humanitarian groups warn could turn catastrophic.