Israel urges evacuation of residents from some neighborhoods in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip

By Zein Khalil

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - The Israeli army on Wednesday urged residents of several neighborhoods in the city of Khan Yunis, located south of the Gaza Strip, to evacuate their homes.

“For the first time, the army called on residents of some neighborhoods in Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, to evacuate their homes,” the Israeli army radio said.

The Israeli also dropped leaflets to the residents of eastern Khan Younis. “To the residents of the eastern neighborhoods of Khan Yunis, Al-Qarara, Khuza'a, Bani Suheila, and Abasan, for your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and head to the known shelters,” the leaflets read.

The army said in its leaflets that "Hamas’ actions" force it "to act against it in your area of residence," without elaborating.

The army radio commented that this is an “important step that indicates an expected expansion” of Israeli military operations toward the southern Gaza Strip.

On Monday, the government media office in the Gaza Strip spoke about reports that there were bodies of hundreds of displaced Palestinians on roads that Israel had declared “safe” toward the southern Gaza Strip.

“We receive dozens of reports and appeals about the presence of hundreds of bodies of martyrs on the streets in various areas of Gaza City who tried to head to the alleged safe passage,” the office said on Telegram.

This comes after Avichay Adraee, the spokesman for the Israeli army, renewed his warning to the people of Gaza, asking them to move south “for their safety.”

* Writing by Rania Abu Shamala