Israel Orders Immediate Evacuation of Khan Younis Districts Ahead of New Assault
Palestinians told to flee to Al-Mawasi, a devastated “safe zone” with no infrastructure, as Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe deepens under continued Israeli bombardment.
Watan-On Monday evening, the Israeli army issued urgent evacuation warnings to Palestinians in four designated blocks within Khan Younis, southern Gaza, ahead of a planned military assault.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) accompanied by a map, Israeli army spokesperson for Arabic media, Avichay Adraee, instructed “all those present in blocks 47, 106, 108, and 109 of Khan Younis” to evacuate immediately.
He threatened that the army would act “with full force” in those areas, claiming that “armed factions, primarily Hamas,” were still active there.
“For your safety, evacuate immediately westward to Al-Mawasi,” he said, adding that the evacuation order does not apply to Al-Amal Hospital, which lies within the targeted zones.
This follows a similar warning issued Saturday by the Israeli military for residents of Khan Younis to relocate west to Al-Mawasi in preparation for a military operation.
#عاجل ‼️ إلى جميع المتواجدين في البلوكات 47, 106, 108, 109 في محافظة خان يونس
⭕️جيش الدفاع الإسرائيلي سوف يعمل بقوة شديدة في مناطق وجودكم
⭕️تواصل المنظمات الإرهابية وفي مقدمتها حماس الأنشطة الإرهابية من المناطق المدنية التي تعيشون فيها
🔴من اجل سلامتكم، اخلوا فوراً غرباً الى… pic.twitter.com/2nu6c644eU— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) June 2, 2025
Al-Mawasi is a largely open area lacking basic infrastructure such as sewage systems, electricity, and communication networks. The land consists mostly of greenhouses and sandy terrain.
Displaced Palestinians in Al-Mawasi live in dire conditions—facing severe shortages of water, sanitation, healthcare, and food. Most live in makeshift tents made of nylon and torn fabric, with little to no basic necessities.
Despite being designated a so-called “safe zone,” Al-Mawasi itself has been repeatedly targeted by Israeli airstrikes, resulting in numerous civilian casualties and massacres.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has waged a campaign widely described as genocide in Gaza—marked by mass killings, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement—while ignoring all international calls and International Court of Justice orders to stop.
The war, backed by the U.S., has killed or injured over 179,000 Palestinians—mostly women and children—left more than 11,000 missing, and caused famine that has claimed the lives of many, including infants.
