Gaza City, August 11, 2024. Reuters TV
Expanded Evacuation Orders in Khan Younis
Overnight Evacuation of Palestinian Residents
In a significant development, Israel expanded its evacuation orders in Khan Younis, a key area in the southern Gaza Strip, compelling tens of thousands of Palestinian residents and displaced families to evacuate during the night. These evacuations were marked by the backdrop of continuous explosions from tank shelling, creating a tense and dangerous environment.
Military Operations and Strikes
The Israeli military stated that its operations were focused on targeting militants from the Hamas group, which had governed Gaza prior to the current conflict. According to Israeli sources, these areas were being used by militants to stage attacks and launch rockets against Israel. The military reported striking approximately 30 Hamas military targets over the past 24 hours, including military structures, anti-tank missile launch sites, and weapons storage facilities.
Airstrikes and Civilian Casualties
On Saturday, an Israeli airstrike targeted a school in Gaza City where displaced Palestinians were taking shelter. The civil defense service reported that at least 90 people were killed in the strike, leading to widespread international condemnation. The Israeli military claimed that the target was a command post used by Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants, resulting in the deaths of 19 militants. However, both militant groups rejected this claim, alleging that it was a pretext for the attack.
Later on Sunday, another airstrike near the central market in Khan Younis resulted in the deaths of four Palestinians and injured several others. Local residents reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted multi-story buildings in the eastern and western parts of the city, causing significant destruction.
International Response and Humanitarian Crisis
Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), expressed deep concern over the dire situation in Gaza. He highlighted the plight of the displaced population, stating that many people were fleeing with little more than their children and a few possessions. The shelters in designated humanitarian zones were already overcrowded, with people facing severe shortages of basic necessities.
The situation in Gaza has deteriorated significantly since the conflict began in October. Nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gaza health ministry. The health officials reported that the majority of the casualties are civilians, while Israel maintains that at least one-third of those killed are combatants. Israel has also suffered significant losses, with 329 soldiers reported killed in the ongoing conflict.
Background of the Conflict
The current Israeli offensive in Gaza commenced following a deadly incursion by Hamas fighters into southern Israel on October 7. The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the capture of more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. The subsequent Israeli military response has led to widespread displacement, with most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents being forced from their homes.
Continued Displacement and Lack of Safe Zones
The ongoing conflict has rendered Gaza a devastated landscape, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble. United Nations and Palestinian officials have reported that there are no safe areas within the enclave, as even designated humanitarian zones, such as Al-Mawasi in western Khan Younis, have been subjected to bombing by Israeli forces. Tens of thousands of people, displaced from their homes and shelters, continue to flee in search of safety, despite the lack of secure areas.
Testimonies from Displaced Residents
The repeated evacuations have taken a heavy toll on the residents of Gaza. Zaki Mohammad, a 28-year-old resident of the Hamad housing project in western Khan Younis, described the exhaustion and despair experienced by many. “This is the 10th time I and my family have had to leave our shelter,” he said. “People are carrying their belongings, their children, their hopes and their fears and running towards the unknown, because there is no safe place. We are running from death to death.”
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