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Gaza Crisis Deepens: Mass Exodus from Khan Younis as Safe Zones Vanish

Wednesday 14 August 2024 - 11:25

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In a harrowing development that underscores the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forced to abandon their homes in Khan Younis, the enclave's second-largest city. This mass displacement comes in response to a new Israeli evacuation order, one of the most extensive since the conflict began 10 months ago.

The evacuation, affecting central, eastern, and western districts of Khan Younis, has sent shockwaves through an already devastated population. In the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, families scrambled to gather what meager possessions they could before setting out in search of safety amidst increasingly dire circumstances.

This latest exodus follows a tragic incident just days prior, where an airstrike on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City resulted in the loss of over 100 Palestinian lives. The Israeli military has consistently issued such evacuation orders, citing the necessity to target Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups allegedly operating within civilian areas.

However, these repeated displacements have forced Gaza's 2.3 million residents into an ever-constricting space, exacerbating an already critical situation. The Gaza Ministry of Health reports staggering casualties since the war's inception: nearly 40,000 Palestinians killed and more than 92,000 wounded.

Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud, reporting from the ground, painted a grim picture of the unfolding crisis. "The ongoing mass evacuation is causing a great deal of difficult living conditions as people are pushed into a smaller area," Mahmoud stated. He further emphasized the shrinking of humanitarian zones in western Khan Younis, leading to extreme overcrowding in an area already at capacity.

The situation has overwhelmed international aid agencies and the United Nations, who struggle to meet the enormous humanitarian needs. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), stressed the dire predicament faced by Gaza's population, describing them as "trapped" with no safe haven, as even designated humanitarian zones have come under attack.

As the conflict intensifies and safe spaces disappear, the people of Gaza find themselves in an increasingly precarious position, with basic supplies dwindling and living conditions deteriorating rapidly. The international community watches with growing concern as this humanitarian catastrophe unfolds, raising urgent questions about the protection of civilians in conflict zones and the long-term implications for peace in the region.