Last updated on August 28th, 2024 at 02:57 pm
The Gaza civil defence agency said around 170 people have been killed and hundreds injured since Monday when Israeli began its military operation around Khan Yunis.
“Since the beginning of the Israeli military operation in the Khan Yunis area, we are talking about approximately 170 martyrs and hundreds of wounded,” said Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for the agency.
Displacement Ongoing, Humanitarian Situation Deteriorating
Bassal added that this has resulted in even more displacement, as people have nowhere else decent to stay. “Whoever sees what is happening in Khan Yunis will see thousands of people on the ground, on the roads, in areas that are unfortunately not fit for living,” he said. “Without other options, they are risking their lives.
The United Nations reported that more than 180,000 Palestinians have fled Khan Yunis since the operation began, and the intensified hostilities have caused huge destabilization of aid operations, leading to dire conditions related to water, hygiene, and sanitation across the Palestinian territory.
Military Justification and Adjustment of Safe Zone
An Israeli military statement quoted by Reuters said the operation was launched “to disrupt intent to conduct rocket fire” from the area, which has been a scene of heavy fighting already this year. On Wednesday, troops retrieved the bodies of five Israelis who had been killed during the Hamas attacks of October 7 and their bodies taken back to Gaza.
On Saturday, the army ordered civilians in more parts of Khan Yunis “to temporarily evacuate to the adjusted humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi” — the second such adjustment made to the safe zone within a week.
