Israel begins to launch salvos into Khan Younis after evacuation order

Following the warning from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to evacuate, Israel carried out extensive airstrikes in southern Gaza, particularly targeting the city of Khan Younis, on Tuesday. This military action has led to the evacuation of hundreds of Palestinians amidst escalating hostilities, with many residents already displaced from previous conflicts.

The recent escalation came in response to a rocket barrage from the militant group Islamic Jihad, which has been actively engaged alongside Hamas. According to the Israeli military, around 20 projectiles were launched from Khan Younis, most of which were intercepted without causing casualties. The IDF has retaliated by targeting the sources of the rocket fire with artillery strikes.

The strikes on Khan Younis have resulted in significant casualties, with reports indicating that eight people were killed and more than 30 injured. The Palestinian Red Crescent and medical sources provided these figures amidst the chaos and destruction that have once again gripped the city. Witnesses have described multiple airstrikes in and around Khan Younis, intensifying fears of a renewed ground assault by Israeli forces on Gaza's second-largest city.

The IDF has urged civilians to evacuate immediately to designated humanitarian zones for their safety. Army spokesperson Avichay Adraee communicated this message on social media, emphasizing the need for residents to move to the coastal area of al-Mawasi, which has been designated as a safe zone.

However, al-Mawasi is already overwhelmed with crowded and unsanitary tent camps, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, expressed deep concern over the new evacuation order, highlighting the persistent danger faced by Palestinian civilians in Gaza. He called for a ceasefire, emphasizing that the continuous displacement of the population underscores the lack of safety in the region. Guterres condemned the cyclical violence and the regular upheaval that Gaza's residents endure.

The ongoing conflict has devastated Khan Younis, which was heavily damaged in a prolonged assault earlier this year. Many Palestinians had returned to the city to escape violence in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city, only to find themselves forced to flee once again.

As night fell, civilians were seen leaving Khan Younis on foot and in vehicles, moving towards the evacuation zones as ordered by the IDF.

The possibility of a new ground assault looms large, with Israeli forces having previously claimed to have dismantled Hamas battalions in Khan Younis. The military's recent actions echo the intense fighting that followed an evacuation order in the northern Gaza district of Shijaiyah last week.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the military is progressing toward dismantling Hamas' terror network but warned that further strikes on its remnants would continue.

The escalation in Khan Younis threatens to further disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid, which is already critically limited. The Kerem Shalom crossing, a vital aid route to southern Gaza, lies within the evacuation zone, potentially obstructing access to essential supplies.

With most of Gaza's 2.3 million residents already displaced multiple times, the ongoing conflict exacerbates widespread hunger and raises fears of an impending famine.