Israeli Military Orders Evacuation
The UN reports that around 250,000 Palestinians in southern Gaza are affected by evacuation orders from the Israel military forces as overnight strikes hit South Gaza. Residents of Khan Younis and nearby areas are fleeing on foot and by car. Despite the absence of an official evacuation order for a major hospital, patients and medical staff have also started to leave.
Casualties and Destruction
Overnight Israeli strikes have resulted in the deaths of eight Palestinians, with dozens more wounded, according to Gazan health officials. Louise Wateridge from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) in Gaza expressed concern about where displaced people can seek refuge, especially given the already precarious living conditions post-Rafah military operation.
Continuous Fleeing
Thousands of Palestinians, huddled on carts, motorbikes, and pickup trucks, are fleeing towns east of Khan Younis. After issuing evacuation orders on Monday evening, the Israeli military launched strikes overnight, targeting areas from which around 20 projectiles were fired into Israel. The military claims to have struck a weapons storage facility and operational centres of Palestinian armed groups.
Hospital Evacuations
Patients and medical staff at the European Gaza Hospital have been evacuating, despite no direct orders from the military. Dr Abdullah Hamdan, head of the hospital’s emergency department, stated that the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry directed the evacuation. Many patients have been relocated to Nasser Hospital in western Khan Younis, although some, including a cancer patient, remain stranded on the streets.
Destruction in Khan Younis
Khan Younis has faced extensive destruction from a sustained Israeli offensive against Hamas earlier this year. Many residents who had returned to the city after seeking refuge elsewhere now find themselves displaced once again. The relentless cycle of displacement has left many uncertain about their future and safety.
Designated Humanitarian Areas
The Israeli military has directed residents to move to the overcrowded area of al-Mawasi, designated as a “humanitarian area” early in the conflict. Despite Israeli leaders stating that the intense phase of the war is nearing an end, Palestinian fighters continue to re-emerge in previously cleared areas, prolonging the conflict and the suffering of the affected populations.
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