Israel issues evacuation orders for Palestinian civilians in Khan Younis ahead of attacks

By Zein Khalil and Rania Abu Shamala

JERUSALEM /ISTANBUL (AA) – The Israeli army issued immediate evacuation orders on Saturday for Palestinian civilians in three towns in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis amid a deadly onslaught on the enclave.

Military spokesman Avichay Adraee said that Palestinians must leave their areas in the towns of Abasan, al-Qarara, and Khuza'a, calling the three towns “dangerous combat zones.”

“You must immediately move westward toward the shelter centers in the al-Mawasi area,” Adraee said, claiming rocket fire from the targeted areas.

The army said in a later statement that it struck a mortar launch site in Khan Younis, without providing any further details.

The army claimed that three mortar shells were fired from southern Gaza at its forces positioned on the eastern outskirts of Khan Younis. No injuries were reported.

The Israeli army launched a surprise aerial campaign on the Gaza Strip on March 18, killing over 920 people, injuring more than 2,000 others, and shattering a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took hold in January.

More than 50,200 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 114,000 injured in a brutal Israeli military onslaught on Gaza since October 2023.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.