Written By Lisa Murimi
The Israeli military has ordered civilians to temporarily evacuate part of its designated humanitarian zone in southern Gaza ahead of a “forceful operation” against Palestinian armed groups.
The order follows what the military described as “significant terrorist activity and rocket fire” from eastern neighborhoods of Khan Younis. Residents were instructed to move to the “adjusted” al-Mawasi humanitarian area.
Palestinians reported intense Israeli air and artillery strikes in and around Khan Younis following the evacuation announcement.
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said at least 14 people, including six children and four women, were killed. The ministry urged residents to donate blood at Nasser hospital in western Khan Younis to help treat the large number of casualties.
Earlier this year, much of Khan Younis was destroyed in an Israeli offensive. Despite this, many returned after Israeli troops began an operation in Rafah in May. However, tens of thousands were displaced again this month following fresh evacuation orders.
Israel has conducted several deadly strikes in the humanitarian zone recently, claiming they targeted Palestinian fighters. On July 13, an Israeli strike in al-Mawasi killed more than 90 people, including, reportedly, the head of Hamas’s military wing.
In a separate incident, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees accused Israeli forces of firing at a marked UN convoy. The convoy’s movement had been coordinated with Israeli authorities.
Israel’s campaign in Gaza began in response to an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. Since then, Gaza’s health ministry reports over 38,980 fatalities.
