Overnight, Israel expanded its evacuation orders in the southern Gaza Strip’s Khan Younis, prompting tens of thousands of Palestinian residents and displaced families to flee under the cover of darkness amidst the echoes of tank shelling.
The Israeli military targeted areas used by Hamas militants to launch attacks and fire rockets. Hamas had governed Gaza prior to the conflict. Following a significant airstrike on a Gaza City school sheltering displaced Palestinians, which resulted in at least 90 deaths, there was substantial global condemnation. This school was purportedly used as a command center by Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants, a claim these groups deny, asserting it was a pretext for the attack.
In response to escalating military actions, including the recent re-entry of tanks into eastern Khan Younis, Israel issued one of the largest evacuation directives of the 10-month conflict. Residents received notifications via the platform X and direct messages to evacuate immediately to a designated humanitarian zone, labeling the area a hazardous combat zone.
Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), highlighted the dire situation for the people in Gaza, who he described as trapped with limited options for safety. Many carry only their essential belongings, seeking refuge in already overcrowded shelters.
The Israeli military reported striking approximately 30 Hamas military sites in 24 hours, targeting structures, missile launch sites, and arms depots. Islamic Jihad claimed to have responded with mortar attacks against Israeli troops near Khan Younis.
Further violence was reported on Sunday when an Israeli airstrike near the central market in Khan Younis resulted in the deaths of four Palestinians and injuries to several others. Witnesses reported smoke rising from multiple areas and the bombing of two multi-story buildings.
Since the conflict began last October, nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed according to Gaza’s health ministry, with the majority being civilians. Israel, however, states that at least a third were combatants. Israel has also suffered significant losses, with 329 soldiers killed in the conflict.
The conflict was triggered when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200, mostly civilians, and taking over 250 hostages, as per Israeli records.
The dire humanitarian situation in Gaza is exacerbated as most of the 2.3 million inhabitants have been displaced and much of the territory is in ruins. Both Palestinian and UN officials affirm that no part of the enclave is safe from attack, even areas designated as humanitarian zones.
