Gazans flee as Israel Army pushes into Khan Younis

Israel issues fresh evacuation orders in Khan Yunis as military prepares for new operation against Palestinian militants.

Hundreds of Gazans fled the northern neighbourhoods of Khan Yunis on Sunday (August 11, 2024) after Israel issued fresh evacuation orders ahead of a new operation against Palestinian militants it says have taken refuge there.

Early in the morning the army dropped leaflets and sent mobile phone messages telling residents to leave the Al-Jalaa area of Khan Younis, which was already considered a humanitarian safe zone.

The military warned Al-Jalaa will become a "dangerous combat zone", forcing Palestinians already displaced numerous times by the Gaza war to pack up and leave looking for a new shelter.

Families gathered their meagre belongings and left the area, fearing fresh missile strikes and fighting, AFP journalists reported.

Crowds of people, mainly from the Hamad neighbourhood in Al-Jalaa, left with whatever they could lay their hands on, some loading mattresses, clothing and cooking utensils into pick-up trucks, while others simply walked with their bags.

Young men and women escorted elderly family members, while others tried to catch a ride to safer zones.

"The IDF (Israeli army) is about to operate against the terrorist organisations in the area and therefore calls on the remaining population left in the Al-Jalaa neighbourhood to temporarily evacuate," the military said in a statement.