“Israel’s military has issued new evacuation orders in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, expanding its reach into an area where displaced Palestinians have sought shelter, following a deadly attack on a hospital in the enclave’s center. The military claimed that remaining in the area had become perilous due to rocket fire from Gaza fighters, and announced plans to “forcefully operate” there.
This latest order comes a week after the military issued an evacuation order for eastern Khan Younis, launching a new ground invasion that displaced at least 180,000 Palestinians in just four days, according to the United Nations.
Reporting from Deir el-Balah, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud said that people are being told to move to “safer” areas, despite international warnings that no place is safe. However, he noted that this appears to be a case of enforced internal displacement for those already displaced in southern Khan Younis.
The Israeli military’s latest evacuation order was issued through various channels, including leaflets, SMS messages, phone calls, and media broadcasts. However, an air attack on Saturday morning killed many people in a home in the area, with medical sources reporting 14 bodies arriving at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
The Israeli military also launched a devastating attack on a field hospital in Deir el-Balah, killing at least 30 Palestinians and wounding dozens, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. The attack on the Khadija School, which was housing 4,000 displaced Palestinians, was described as a “new massacre” by the Government Media Office in Gaza.
The Israeli military claimed that the school was being used as a “Hamas command and control center” and housed weapons, justifying its attack. However, this claim has been widely condemned by UN agencies, which have denounced Israel’s policy of mass displacement and military attacks on humanitarian “safe zones”.
The conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least 39,258 Palestinians in Gaza since October, with over 90,589 wounded and thousands missing, according to the Health Ministry. The ministry also reported that the European Gaza Hospital remains out of service, despite the urgent need for medical care amid repeated Israeli attacks on hospitals across Gaza
