Over 180,000 Palestinians have fled the bombings in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis within just four days, according to the United Nations. The UN’s humanitarian agency, OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), reports that the recent “intensified fighting” in the Khan Younis area, which has now lasted for over nine months, has led to “new waves of internal displacement in Gaza.” OCHA states that approximately 182,000 individuals have been displaced from the central and eastern parts of Khan Younis between Monday and Thursday, while “hundreds of others remain stranded in the eastern part of Khan Younis.”
The Israeli military ordered the evacuation of parts of the southern city on Monday, announcing that their forces would “operate with force” in the area, including in a zone that had previously been declared a safe humanitarian zone. A reporter from Al Jazeera, Hind Khoudary, reporting from Deir el-Balah, noted that at least 18 people have lost their lives as a result of Israeli airstrikes on Khan Younis. Khoudary added that individuals injured during these attacks could not be reached “because the Israeli military did not give them time to evacuate after issuing the evacuation order.”
She highlighted that those who evacuated are suffering from heat, widespread illness, and poor hygiene conditions, which have led to skin rashes and other health issues. Additional reports indicate two more fatalities in Gaza City and one death in the Nuseirat refugee camp located in the central part of the enclave.
The Israeli military has stated that troops have been engaged in combat with Palestinian fighters in Khan Younis and have destroyed tunnels and other infrastructure while attempting to defeat small units that continue to target their forces with mortar fire. The military claims to have killed approximately 100 Palestinian fighters since the operation began.
During a special session of the UN Security Council, Palestine’s UN Ambassador, Riyad Mansour, criticized the Council for its failure to secure a ceasefire and to bring an end to Israel’s nine-month-long war against Gaza. “We have collectively failed. This Council has failed,” Mansour said while calling for an immediate ceasefire as the first step toward reducing human suffering.
In response to the criticism, Israel’s UN Ambassador, Gilad Erdan, related his family’s fate during the Nazi regime and accused Hamas of intending to exterminate the Jewish people.
According to Palestinian authorities, at least 39,175 people have been killed and 90,403 injured in Israel’s war against Gaza. The death toll in Israel resulting from Hamas’ attacks on October 7 is estimated at 1,139, with several individuals still being held captive in Gaza.