According to the United Nations, more than 180,000 Palestinians have fled Khan Yunis
Gaza:
Gaza’s Civil Protection Organization said on Saturday that the Israeli military operation around Khan Yunis has killed around 170 people and injured hundreds since it started on Monday.
“Since the beginning of the Israeli military operation in the Khan Yunis area, we are talking about about 170 martyrs and hundreds of wounded,” agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.
He said many people were displaced again on Saturday as the Israeli operation continued.
“The question is, where will these residents go?” Basaal said.
“Anyone who sees the situation in Khan Yunis will witness thousands of people scattered on the ground, on the roads, in areas that are unfortunately not suitable for living.
“With no other options available, they expose themselves to death.”
Earlier on Saturday, the army issued new evacuation orders for residents of the southern city after recovering the bodies of five Israelis and warning of new operations.
More than 180,000 Palestinians have fled Khan Yunis since the Israeli operation began on Monday, according to the United Nations.
The evacuation orders and “heightened hostilities” have “significantly destabilized” relief operations, it added, reporting “dire water, hygiene and sanitation conditions” across the Palestinian territory.
The Israeli military said it launched the operation to halt rocket fire from the area, which was the site of heavy fighting earlier this year.
On Wednesday it said troops had recovered the bodies of five Israelis from the area.
They had been killed in the October 7 Hamas attacks and their bodies had been returned to Gaza, the army said.
On Saturday, it ordered residents from more parts of Khan Yunis to “temporarily evacuate to the modified humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi” – the second such adjustment to the safe zone within a week.
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