In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, up to a quarter of a million Palestinians have been ordered to evacuate parts of Khan Younis once again due to fresh evacuation orders from Israel's army. The United Nations has warned that this could result in an additional quarter of a million people being displaced, bringing the total number of displaced Palestinians to over half a million. This comes after Israel pulled back its forces from Khan Younis in April following an assault that devastated the city.
On Monday, Israeli authorities issued evacuation orders for more than a dozen eastern neighborhoods in Khan Younis, indicating that further battles may be on the horizon. Avichay Adraee, the Israel Defense Forces' Arabic-language spokesman, urged civilians to evacuate immediately to a humanitarian zone for their safety.
Meanwhile, at least a dozen people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a building in Deir al-Balah inside an Israeli-declared safe zone. Among the fatalities was Dr. Hossam Hamdan, head of the burns and plastic surgery department at Nasser Hospital. The family had fled their home in the middle of the night after receiving evacuation orders for areas in southern Gaza.
The European Hospital in Khan Younis served as a shelter for many displaced Palestinians, but it was evacuated due to an Israeli military order. Many doctors and patients chose to leave prior to the statement advising against it, while large numbers of people were reportedly fleeing the evacuation zone.
The ongoing conflict and resulting evacuation orders have caused chaos and hardship for Palestinians in the region. The struggle for shelter, food, and safety continues as both sides engage in military actions.