250000 Palestinians Ordered to Evacuate Amid Gaza Conflict

Israeli military orders 250,000 Palestinians to evacuate Khan Younis amid renewed Gaza conflict, leading to humanitarian concerns over safety and hospital evacuations.

CONTENTS:

• Palestinians seek safety amid conflict
• Israeli military’s humanitarian zone complexities
• Hospital evacuation raises humanitarian concerns
• Gaza residents endure hardships, displacement

Palestinians seek safety amid conflict

250000 Palestinians Ordered to Evacuate Amid Gaza Conflict

For nearly nine months, Israel’s ongoing conflict with Gaza has compelled Palestinians to constantly seek safe havens within the besieged Strip. The latest directive from Israel requires 250,000 displaced residents of Khan Younis, Gaza’s second-largest city, to evacuate amid renewed attacks in the southern region. Intense clashes are currently trapping civilians in Rafah in the south and Shujayea neighborhood in Gaza City to the north.

Israeli military’s humanitarian zone complexities

250000 Palestinians Ordered to Evacuate Amid Gaza Conflict: Initially, the Israeli military instructed Palestinians to evacuate immediately to a “humanitarian zone” without specifying its location. Approximately 13 hours later, a communication indicated that people should head to the “al-Mawasi humanitarian zone”.

Al-Mawasi, described by Israel as a humanitarian area, extends along the coast northward to Deir el-Balah. Despite this designation, it has been subject to Israeli attacks, resulting in significant casualties, including 25 deaths on June 21 and 21 deaths on May 28, according to Palestinian sources.

Concerns over safety recently led the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to evacuate its base in the Khan Younis portion of al-Mawasi on June 29.

Hospital evacuation raises humanitarian concerns

The Israeli military stated that its evacuation directive did not include the European Hospital, located within the designated zone. However, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that patients were being transferred to nearby hospitals in anticipation of a potential ground assault, despite this assurance.

Jeremy Hickey, an anaesthesiologist from Fajr Scientific volunteering at the hospital, confirmed that staff were instructed to evacuate. Verified videos by Al Jazeera’s fact-checking unit, Sanad, depicted entire hospital departments and areas where displaced individuals sought shelter being cleared out. Hickey emphasized that this forced displacement exposes them all to significant risks.

Gaza residents endure hardships, displacement

250000 Palestinians Ordered to Evacuate Amid Gaza Conflict: Due to the severe fuel shortage in Gaza, people are resorting to walking long distances or using animal-drawn carts as they flee, as reported by Hani Mahmoud from Al Jazeera in Deir el-Balah.

He noted that continuous movement and forced displacement are significantly impacting a population already traumatized and displaced over the past nine months.

Ahmed al-Bairam, speaking to Reuters, described how he and others had to leave without taking any belongings after receiving Israeli evacuation orders.

He expressed uncertainty about their future destinations, recounting their movements from eastern areas to various locations including the European Hospital, Rafah, Bani Suheila, Nasser Hospital, and now Somood camp. Al-Bairam highlighted the challenges faced, including the lack of transportation, forcing children and others to walk long distances.