Israel ordered civilians to leave four towns in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. (File)
Gaza/Jerusalem:
Israel requested the residents of four towns in the southern part of the Gaza Strip to evacuate, expressing concerns that the ongoing war against Hamas could potentially escalate to these areas.
In the north of the Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave, Israel confirmed the presence of its forces at Gaza’s largest hospital, Al Shifa, but did not provide further details about their operations since the previous day when they entered the facility following a days-long siege.
Leaflets dropped from aircraft overnight informed civilians to leave the towns of Bani Shuhaila, Khuzaa, Abassan, and Qarara, located on the eastern edge of Khan Younis, the main southern city. These towns, collectively home to over 100,000 people during peacetime, are currently sheltering tens of thousands more who have fled from other areas.
“The acts of Hamas terrorist group require the defence forces to act against them in the areas of your residence,” the leaflets stated. “For your safety, you need to evacuate your places of residence immediately and head to known shelters.”
Residents reported heavy bombardment in the area overnight.
Israel had previously directed the evacuation of the entire northern half of Gaza before deploying its ground forces at the end of October. Under the observation of Israeli soldiers during six-hour “tactical pauses,” long processions of people carrying minimal possessions have been moving south each day to allow residents to leave.
The United Nations stated that around two-thirds of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced, with most seeking shelter in southern towns, since Israel commenced retaliation against Hamas for an attack in southern Israeli towns, which resulted in numerous casualties.
Hamas operatives breached the fence around Gaza on Oct. 7, leading to an assault that Israel claims resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people – the deadliest day in its history. Approximately 240 hostages were taken back to Gaza.
Following the incident, Israel initiated airstrikes on Gaza and imposed food and fuel blockades. According to Gaza health authorities considered reliable by the United Nations, over 11,000 people have been confirmed killed, with more than 40% of them being children, and many more feared to be trapped under the rubble of destroyed homes.
COMMUNICATIONS CUT
The status of Israel’s operation in Al Shifa hospital on the second day was unverifiable due to the cut-off communications since Wednesday afternoon.
The situation at the hospital had prompted international concern, with hundreds of patients and thousands of displaced civilians being trapped inside without essential supplies such as fuel, oxygen, and basic necessities.
Doctors reported that dozens of patients had died recently due to the siege imposed by Israel, including three newborn babies in incubators that lost power.
A day after entering Shifa, Israel was yet to present evidence supporting its claim of a significant Hamas headquarters in tunnels beneath the facility, which it had cited as a justification for treating it as a military target.
Israel released a video showing a soldier touring a hospital building, displaying three bags with guns and flak jackets that he claimed were found stashed there, as well as several other rifles in a closet and a laptop. However, critics, including Kenneth Roth, former head of Human Rights Watch, questioned the validity of this evidence and suggested that more substantial proof was needed to justify the severe consequences for the civilian population in urgent need of medical assistance.
Hamas dismissed the video as staged, and other Palestinians pointed out that it did not depict the extensive underground headquarters complex that Israel had alleged to be within the compound.
Dr Nahed Abu Taaema, the director of the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, expressed concern for his colleagues at Shifa after losing contact with them since Wednesday and emphasized the lack of presence of resistance activities inside medical institutions.
The uncertainty about Israel’s future plans for Gaza was reignited after its president, Isaac Herzog, mentioned in an interview with Britain’s Financial Times that a “very strong force” may need to remain in Gaza in the near future to prevent the re-emergence of the Hamas group following the war. Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden cautioned against Israel’s occupation of Gaza, stating that it would be “a big mistake” for Israel.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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