Israeli Forces Bomb Southern Gaza, Civilians Flee | Israel Hamas War.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces bombed several areas in the southern Gaza Strip in what could be their final action in the nine-month war. This came after Israel had ordered residents of several towns and villages around Khan Yunis and Rafah to evacuate a day earlier.
Evacuation Order and Humanitarian Crisis.
Such a large-scale evacuation would exacerbate civilian suffering and increase humanitarian needs. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, citing figures from the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, said it was the largest evacuation order since 1.1 million people were asked to leave the northern part of the enclave in October.
Difficult Choices for People.
People have two impossible choices: either they have to move for a second or third time to areas with hardly any space or services, or stay in an area where they know there will be fighting.
Bombardment and Hospital Situation.
Thousands of people who did not follow evacuation orders were forced to flee their homes overnight during the Israeli bombardment. Gaza’s European Hospital in Khan Younis, whose emergency department has been providing continuous daily services since the start of the war, was forced to evacuate.
Plight of Desperate Civilians.
A man, whose sick daughter was being treated there, said it was their last resort because many hospitals have been destroyed. He said, “Anyone who is injured will die.”
War Situation and Israeli Leaders’ Statement.
Israel’s leaders have said they are ending a phase of intense fighting against Hamas, the Islamist group that has ruled Gaza since 2007, and will soon turn to more targeted operations.
Beginning of the War and Casualty Figures.
The war in Gaza began when Hamas stormed southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Nearly 38,000 people have been killed and the coastal enclave devastated in a retaliatory offensive launched by Israel, according to the Gaza health ministry.