GAZA CITY – The Israeli army on Monday said Palestinians living in and around the large southern Gaza Strip’s city of Khan Younis must leave their homes as it prepares to launch an “unprecedented attack” on the area, the Times of Israel reported.
The evacuation order, covering all of Khan Younis as well as the suburbs of Bani Suheila and Abasan, marks the first major evacuation order since the Israeli forces launched an expanded offensive in the Strip, with Israeli leaders warning they intend to conquer the whole territory to smash the infrastructure of Hamas group.
“The Israeli forces will launch an unprecedented attack to destroy the capabilities of organizations in this area,” said the military’s Arabic-language spokesman, Col. Avichay Adraee.
The entire Khan Younis area is now considered “a dangerous combat zone,” he said.
Civilians, who likely number in the tens of thousands, are advised to move west toward the Mawasi area on the coast.
