The Israeli military has issued a mass evacuation order for Palestinians in the eastern half of Khan Younis, Gaza's second-largest city, indicating a possible return of troops to the area. This development comes months after Israel withdrew its forces from Khan Younis following a devastating assault earlier this year.
Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF's Arabic-language spokesperson, announced the evacuation order on social media, urging residents to "immediately evacuate to the humanitarian zone" for their safety. The order covers more than a dozen neighborhoods in eastern Khan Younis, including al-Qarara, Bani Suheila, the Abasan neighborhoods, and the town of Khuza'a, as reported by the Times of Israel.
The evacuation directive follows a barrage of at least 20 rockets launched from the Khan Younis area towards Israeli communities bordering the Gaza Strip earlier on Monday. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack, which was the largest rocket volley in at least seven months. No injuries were reported, and the IDF said it retaliated by striking the sources of the rocket fire.
This new phase of operations comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Israel is nearing completion of its mission to eliminate Hamas' military capabilities in Gaza. However, small groups of militants continue to launch rockets into Israel and target troops, nearly nine months into the conflict.
The UN Secretary-General's spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, expressed concern over the situation, stating that "no place is safe in Gaza" and calling for increased efforts to protect civilians.
As Israel claims progress in its mission to destroy Hamas' military capabilities, the ongoing evacuations and renewed offensives suggest that the end of this devastating conflict remains elusive.
