On 2 December 2023, after a week-long cessation of fighting in the [[Israel–Hamas war]], the [[Israel Defense Forces]] (IDF) began [[Battle of Khan Yunis|began bombing targets in Khan Yunis]], including in Hamad City.<ref>{{cite news |title=Israeli Airstrikes Hit Gaza After Truce Ends, Sirens Warning of Hamas Rockets Heard |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/israeli-airstrikes-hit-gaza-after-truce-ends-sirens-warning-of-hamas-rockets-heard |access-date=21 May 2024 |work=[[PBS]] |date=1 December 2023}}</ref> The IAF conducted five airstrikes in Hamad City within the space of two minutes, destroying nearly the entire complex.<ref name="Strike"/> A total of fifty targets in the district and in neighbouring [[al-Qarara]] were hit by airstrikes and artillery within the space of six minutes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Varshalomidze |first1=Tamila |title=Residents Trapped in Khan Younis's Hamad City and al-Qarara Appeal For Evacuation|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/3/israels-war-on-gaza-live-every-minute-counts-as-hunger-kills-in-gaza?update=2745539 |access-date=21 May 2024 |work=[[Al Jazeera]] |date=3 December 2024}}</ref> Residents were warned to leave the area via [[Airborne leaflet propaganda|leaflets]] before the strikes commenced.<ref>{{cite news |last1=El-Bursh |first1=Adnan |last2=Gribben|first2=Paul|title=In Pictures: Development Near Southern City Hit By Israeli Strikes |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-middle-east-67584895?pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:2cb6486c-2518-4057-85d9-b771ec9e192b&pinned_post_asset_id=6569f9f087855b2dac7d2cda&pinned_post_type=share |access-date=21 May 2024 |work=[[BBC]] |date=2 December 2023}}</ref>
On 3 March 2024, after conducting a series of attacks on nearby [[Deir al-Balah]], the IDF began to [[Battle of Hamad|lay siege onto Hamad City]]. By this time, the neighbourhood was serving as a shelter for additional thousands of refugees who had [[Gaza Strip evacuations|been displaced]] as a result of IDF operations in northern Gaza.<ref name="Encircles">{{cite web|last=|first=|date=3 March 2024|title=צה"ל מכתר את 'מדינת חמד' בצפון מערב חאן יונס|trans-title=IDF Encircles 'Madinat Hamad' in Northwest Khan Yunis|url=https://www.srugim.co.il/903866-%d7%a6%d7%94%d7%9c-%d7%9e%d7%9b%d7%aa%d7%a8-%d7%90%d7%aa-%d7%9e%d7%93%d7%99%d7%a0%d7%aa-%d7%97%d7%9e%d7%93-%d7%91%d7%a6%d7%a4%d7%95%d7%9f-%d7%9e%d7%a2%d7%a8%d7%91-%d7%97%d7%90%d7%9f-%d7%99%d7%95|language=he-IL |website=Srugim|location= |access-date=23 May 2024}}</ref> The IDF set up a checkpoint in the neighbourhood and directed residents to evacuate to [[Al-Mawasi]] or Deir al-Balah.<ref>{{cite web |title=Iran Update, March 3, 2024 |url=https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/iran-update-march-3-2024 |website=Critical Threats |access-date=23 May 2024}}</ref> During eleven days of fighting, specialised [[Unit Egoz|Egoz]], [[Maglan]], [[Shayetet 13]] and [[Givati Brigade|Givati]] reconnaissance units methodically went through every building in the complex, clearing each one floor by floor.<ref name="Terrorists">{{cite news |last1=Greenwood |first1=Hanan |title=Where Terrorists Hide In Luxury Homes: A Visit To the Qatari-built Hamas Stronghold |url=https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/03/13/an-upscale-neighborhood-teeming-with-terrorists-a-visit-to-the-qatari-build-hamas-stronghold/ |access-date=23 May 2024 |work=[[Israel Hayom]] |date=13 March 2024}}</ref> In one of the buildings, soldiers found Colonel [[Yonatan Steinberg]]'s army-issued weapon, along with personal effects of [[Israel–Hamas war hostage crisis|Israelis who were abducted]] at the outset of the war.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jdn.co.il/news/2156568/ |title=בלב השכונה היוקרתית בחאן יונס: אותר הנשק של אל”ם יהונתן שטיינברג הי”ד|last=Toledano|first=Elhanan|date=10 March 2024|access-date=23 May 2024|website=jdn.co.il|language=he-IL|trans-title=In the Heart of Khan Yunis' Luxury Neighbourhood: Colonel Yonatan Steinberg's Weapon Was Found}}</ref> IDF commanders who engaged with elite [[Nukhba (Hamas unit)|Nukhba]] fighters in the neighbourhood declared that it was the toughest battlefield of the war.<ref name="Terrorists"/>
== Description ==
Hamad City is situated in the northwestern part of Khan Yunis, adjacent to Deir al-Balah.<ref name="Encircles"/> It consisted of three thousand apartments divided among fifty-three five-storey sand-coloured apartment blocks.<ref name="Named"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Lipkin|first=Sapir|date=2 December 2023|title=תקיפות אינטנסיביות בח'אן יונס, חוסל מפקד גדוד שג'אעייה|trans-title=Intense Attacks in Khan Yunis, Shuja'iyya Battalion Commander Killed|url=https://www.mako.co.il/news-military/6361323ddea5a810/Article-3389888b53c2c81026.htm|language=he-IL |work=[[Keshet 12]] |location= |access-date=23 May 2024|quote=The project includes more than fifty buildings with a height of five storeys each, including about three thousand housing units.}}</ref> Although intended as a housing solution for lower-income residents, the complex has been described as "luxurious"<ref name="Significant"/> "prestigious"<ref name="Strike"/> and "prestigiousaffluent".<ref name="StrikeTerrorists"/> It featured its own schools, a mosque, shops and a garden area.<ref name="Strike"/><ref name="Gift"/>