Following Egypt's decision to nationalize the Suez Canal under President Gamal Abdel Nasser, Israel, along with the UK and France, launched an attack on Egypt. During this war, Israeli forces massacred more than 600 people in Khan Yunis.
According to testimonies from Palestinians who were children at the time, Israeli soldiers dropped leaflets warning residents not to resist before entering Gaza. Additionally, announcements through loudspeakers urged all men between the ages of 16 and 50 to leave their homes.
That day was not just the beginning of a new genocide, but the beginning of a new phase in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. One of the most painful examples of this oppression occurred 68 years ago in the southern Gaza region of Khan Yunis.
Khan Yunis has historically been one of the most challenging areas for the Palestinian people. However, the attacks on October 7 intensified the suffering in the region. As a result of Israel's airstrikes and ground operations, Khan Yunis was virtually destroyed.
Many families lost their homes, their loved ones, and for the survivors, the future became a dark uncertainty. This massacre was not only the result of that one day, but a painful reflection of a genocide that has lasted for years.
Years have passed since the massacre, but the exact number of victims is still unclear. Researchers have recorded the deaths of 520 civilians, but the true number is believed to be much higher.
The execution of Egyptian and Palestinian soldiers is often not included in this count. Information on the subject from Israeli sources is limited. Clarifying these events is crucial, as Gaza remained under Israeli occupation from November 1956 until Egypt regained control in March 1957.
1956 AND THE KHAN YUNIS MASSACRE
When the calendar turned to November 1956, the Khan Yunis refugee camp in southern Gaza, where Palestinian refugees were living, became the site of a major massacre. Even after 66 years, the massacre still holds a significant place in the collective memory.
ISRAEL'S HISTORY OF MASSACRES
In Israel's 76-year history, countless massacres and war crimes have been committed. Since its establishment in 1948, attacks targeting Palestinian civilians have left bloody marks in history.
The operations carried out by Israel have led to the deaths and displacement of thousands of people, each one contributing to a different disaster. The 1956 Khan Yunis massacre is just one part of this ongoing process.
CIVILIANS EXECUTED IN THE STREETS
Palestinians gathered in public squares were fired upon. Women and children, who were under the age of 16 at the time, still describe the events with tears in their eyes. Many lost fathers, brothers, husbands, or sons in the crossfire.
For Palestinians who were watching the massacre unfold from their homes, one of the greatest pains came the day after the massacre. Those who went out to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones found dozens of executed Egyptian soldiers and Palestinians.
ESCALATION OF GENOCIDE
The people of Palestine know that the attacks on October 7 were just the beginning. This violence, which has continued to this day, seems unlikely to end soon. Israel's policies of occupation and violence have destroyed many lives, even before October 7. Unfortunately, the international community has largely ignored these facts.
Many human rights defenders, Palestinian activists, and international observers had repeatedly highlighted the systematic oppression, displacement, discrimination, and violence occurring in Palestine even before October 7. But sadly, this made little impact.
Palestinian children, women, and men have endured years of suffering, living through daily pain and continuing to survive. The latest massacre in Khan Yunis was just another part of this ongoing violence. But it was not just the pain of a single day; it was a reflection of the trauma every Palestinian has faced for years.
INTERNATIONAL SILENCE AND PALESTINIAN RESILIENCE
The international community continues to ignore the suffering of the Palestinian people. Numerous human rights organizations have repeatedly emphasized that Israel's policies of occupation and ethnic cleansing amount to genocide.
Yet the world has turned a blind eye to the tears of Palestinian children, the mourning of mothers, and the ruined lives. The attacks that erupted on October 7 were merely a continuation of what had happened before.
Despite all this suffering, the Palestinian people continue to survive and resist.
After the destruction of their homes and the loss of their loved ones, they manage to stay strong. Many are fighting to rebuild their lives and live freely in their homeland.
The massacre in Khan Yunis was a continuation of the suffering endured by the Palestinian people for years.
While the attacks of October 7 marked a moment when these pains reached their peak, the violence in Palestine continues to deepen with each passing day.
This is not just the story of a people's destruction; it is the story of their rebirth through resistance.
As the Palestinian people strive to survive each day, the world remains silent.
However, it is possible to imagine a future where voices calling for justice and opposition to this cruelty echo across the globe.
