The Israeli military has ordered residents of Khan Younis, a major city in southern Gaza, to evacuate in anticipation of what Israel Defense Forces Arabic spokesperson has described as an “unprecedented attack,” on social media sit X. Several similar evacuation orders were issued yesterday for other parts of Gaza.
The move is part of a new military campaign, dubbed Operation Gideon’s Chariots, launched by the IDF on May 17. The Israeli military said the goal of the operation is to “destroy the capabilities of terrorist organizations in this area.”
According to the BBC, a woman from Khan Younis described the new evacuation order as her “worst nightmare,” while another woman, already displaced in central Gaza, said she refused to move again “because there is no place to go.”
According to the United Nations, at least 1.9 million people, about 90% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced during the war.
The evacuation follows a broader intensification of Israeli military operations across Gaza, including recent strikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, which destroyed a warehouse containing medical supplies, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israeli forces will “take control of all areas of the Strip,” according to a video statement posted to social media. He added: “We are engaged in massive fighting – intense and substantial – and there is progress.”
The IDF reported striking 160 targets in Gaza within the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, hospitals have reported over 100 casualties in a single day.
Under international pressure, Israel has agreed to allow a limited amount of food into Gaza, ending a 10-week blockade. Netanyahu stated, “We must not reach a situation of famine, both from a practical and a diplomatic standpoint.”
Palestinians make their way with belongings as they flee their homes after the Israeli military issued orders for evacuation from eastern Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 19, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled
According to the UN, the blockade has caused critical shortages of food, medicine, and fuel. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported that 57 children have died from malnutrition over the past 11 weeks, and the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification warned last week that the entire population of Gaza is at critical risk of famine, with nearly half a million people facing starvation.
Key members of Netanyahu’s cabinet, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, opposed the decision, calling it a “grave mistake” that could “fuel Hamas.”
The war began after Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. Since then, at least 53,475 people have been killed in Gaza, including 3,340 since the Israeli offensive resumed, according to Gaza’s health authorities. Nearly 60.4% of buildings across Gaza had been damaged or destroyed. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with critical shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
The UN has stressed that Israel is obligated under international law to ensure the civilian population has access to essential humanitarian aid.
