Thousands of Palestinians in southeastern Gaza were forced to flee following an Israeli order to evacuate parts of Khan Younis and Rafah. Despite promises of winding down military operations, Israel conducted heavy strikes overnight in southern Gaza.
Israeli officials have stated that the offensive in Rafah is close to ending, but operations in Gaza will continue to prevent Hamas from regaining control. Evacuation orders were triggered by rockets fired towards Israel by Palestinian militants.
Roughly 250,000 people were estimated to have to flee to comply with the Israeli orders. The U.N. raised concerns over the heightened suffering of civilians, facing food and water shortages, due to the evacuations.
Recent operations to eradicate Hamas fighters have been brutal, with hundreds of Palestinian fighters killed and thousands of people fleeing their homes. Israeli forces largely withdrew from Khan Younis in April, only to order another evacuation recently.
Residents of Khan Younis expressed frustration over repeatedly being forced to leave and return due to ongoing conflict. The evacuations were met with confusion and fear, with many unsure of what the future holds.
Israeli forces are expected to continue conducting targeted raids in Gaza to erode Hamas’s forces over time. The situation in Gaza remains tense and uncertain, with the possibility of renewed military operations looming over the city.
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