KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip. The Israeli army has ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from much of Khan Younis, signaling an imminent new ground assault on Gaza’s second-largest city. This latest move comes as Israel intensifies its efforts against Hamas militants.
The order, issued on Monday, suggests that Khan Younis is the next target in a series of raids by Israeli forces in Gaza. Previously, much of Khan Younis was heavily damaged in a prolonged assault, prompting many Palestinians to relocate there from Rafah, which faced another Israeli offensive.
In a related development, Israel released Dr. Mohammed Abu Selmia, the director of Gaza’s largest hospital, after detaining him for seven months without charge. Israel had accused the hospital of being a Hamas command center, a claim denied by Abu Selmia and other Palestinian health officials. Abu Selmia described harsh conditions and torture during his detention.
The release of Abu Selmia has sparked a political uproar in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called it “a grave mistake,” and both government ministers and opposition leaders expressed outrage, insisting that Abu Selmia had connections to Hamas. However, Israeli security services typically do not release prisoners suspected of militant ties without thorough scrutiny.
Khan Younis Evacuation Details
The evacuation order covers the eastern half of Khan Younis and a significant portion of Gaza’s southeastern corner. Earlier in the day, the Israeli army reported rocket fire from Khan Younis.
As evening fell, streams of civilians began leaving the evacuation zone, many on foot and some in vehicles. Zeinab Abu Jazar, a displaced woman, tearfully recounted, “We received a message on our mobile phones to evacuate. Look at these children, how they walk. We did not find a car to ride in.”
Israel has designated Muwasi, a coastal area, as a safe zone, but it is already crowded with unsanitary tent camps.
The new assault on Khan Younis is expected to be imminent. Israeli forces previously fought in the city earlier this year, claiming to have dismantled Hamas battalions. However, renewed raids in other areas have highlighted the persistent threat posed by Hamas.
Last week, a similar evacuation was ordered in the north Gaza district of Shijaiyah, leading to intense fighting.
Netanyahu stated on Monday that the military is “making progress toward ending the phase of the destruction of Hamas’ terror army” and will continue targeting Hamas forces.
The evacuation zone includes a critical water line installed by Israel after international criticism over water cutoffs to Gaza. It also encompasses the area around the Kerem Shalom crossing, a major aid route into southern Gaza.
The ongoing conflict has forced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents to flee their homes, many multiple times. Israeli restrictions, continuous fighting, and the breakdown of public order have severely hampered humanitarian aid delivery, causing widespread hunger and raising fears of famine.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the new evacuation order, stating, “It just shows yet again that no place is safe in Gaza for Palestinian civilians. It’s another stop in this deadly circular movement that the population in Gaza has to undergo on a regular basis,” and called for a cease-fire.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
