Israeli forces launched strikes in southern Gaza targeting areas in Khan Younis from which rockets were fired at Israel. The military also ordered new evacuations in Khan Younis and Rafah, possibly hinting at an impending ground assault. The European Gaza Hospital was included in the evacuation zone, prompting patients and medical staff to flee. This evacuation comes after Hamas fighters have reportedly resurged in parts of Khan Younis that Israeli forces had withdrawn from earlier in the year.
The evacuation order was issued after at least 20 rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza, leading to retaliatory artillery strikes by Israel. Most of Gaza’s 2.2 million population has been displaced during the war, with many receiving repeated evacuation orders or fleeing combat zones. The United Nations criticized the evacuation order, emphasizing the need for a cease-fire in Gaza.
Doctors at the European Gaza Hospital and the nearby Nasser Hospital reported chaos during evacuations, with patients struggling to receive care due to destroyed roads and overcrowding. The European Gaza Hospital, home to hundreds of patients before the evacuation, faced difficulties treating them amidst the evacuation.
Medical workers who have been evacuating voiced distress over leaving their patients behind, many of whom had complex conditions and urgently required care. The situation in Gaza remains volatile with ongoing violence and displacement, underscoring the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
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