The streets of Khan Yunis were left desolate and eerily quiet on Friday as residents fled the area following a fresh Israeli military operation. The evacuation, prompted by Israeli orders, comes amid an ongoing conflict that has severely impacted the region over the past 10 months.
Israeli forces distributed leaflets from planes, instructing residents to evacuate eastern towns of the Khan Yunis governorate, including Al-Salqa, Al-Qarara, Bani Suheila, and various neighborhoods within Khan Yunis city. The flyers warned of imminent military actions due to continued rocket launches by Hamas and other militant groups from these areas.
Reem Abu Hayya, a local resident, described the chaotic scene, noting, “They threw leaflets at us, ordering us to evacuate.” The sudden evacuation order left many residents uncertain of their destination and struggling to transport their belongings. The dire situation is compounded by the ongoing blockade, which has made basic supplies scarce and the prospect of finding safe refuge uncertain.
By Thursday evening, Khan Yunis was largely deserted. Residents, burdened with their belongings, traversed the streets on foot or in makeshift vehicles. Some carried essential items like planks of wood for shelter, while others transported their possessions in plastic bags, on donkey carts, bikes, strollers, or wheelchairs. With petrol in short supply, those who could afford it used vehicles, often overloaded with mattresses and other essentials.
The new military operation follows a pattern of repeated military actions in Gaza, where the Israeli forces have targeted areas based on intelligence reports about militant activities and infrastructure. The Israeli military stated that its operations aim to “eliminate terrorists in the area while locating and dismantling weaponry and terrorist infrastructure.”
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has been deteriorating rapidly. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), recently reported that only 14 percent of Gaza remains free from evacuation orders. The ongoing conflict, which began with Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, has resulted in substantial casualties. According to official figures, the conflict has claimed the lives of 1,198 people in Israel and at least 39,699 in Gaza.
Local residents have expressed deep frustration and exhaustion. Mohammad al-Farra, a resident of Sheikh Nasser in eastern Khan Yunis, lamented the repeated displacements his family has endured. “We were the first to return to our home… as soon as the military operation in our area ended, to escape the heat, the displacement, and the hardship,” he said. “Then the occupation returned to drive us out again, making us suffer the tragedy multiple times over.”
Sources By Agencies
