Reports of at least 16 dead with casualties pouring into hospital.
Israel’s military has initiated artillery and air strikes on eastern Khan Younis right after ordering residents to evacuate from what was considered a humanitarian zone. The attacks led to at least 16 deaths, as confirmed by health officials in Gaza.
The population in the enclave, mostly displaced and in urgent need of shelter and food, has been struggling to find security as they are confined to shrinking “safe zones” due to Israel’s bombardment.
The military cited Hamas operations as the reason for the renewed attacks on the area, accusing the group of using civilians as human shields. This has prompted an evacuation order affecting over 400,000 people, according to the Palestinian Civil Defence.
Israel’s relentless wave of assaults in eastern Khan Younis underscores the ongoing conflict while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends to matters in Washington and negotiators gear up for captive-prisoner exchange talks. The war has taken a heavy toll on Gaza, with casualties reaching almost 39,000 and a significant portion of the enclave lying in ruins.