Khan Younis IDF bombards ruined city and orders residents to evacuate

Thousands of Palestinians were fleeing Khan Younis in southern Gaza after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) once again bombarded the largely ruined city and ordered a mass evacuation of residents.

- Jason Burke

Witnesses reported strikes yesterday in and around the city, which came after a rare rocket barrage on Monday claimed by the militant group Islamic Jihad, which has fought alongside Hamas.

The Israeli military said about "20 projectiles were identified crossing from the area of Khan Younis", most of which were intercepted. It reported no casualties and said it was "striking the sources of the fire".

The bombardment and evacuation orders suggested troops could launch a new ground assault on the territory's second-largest city. Israeli forces fought for weeks in Khan Younis earlier this year and withdrew, claiming to have destroyed Hamas battalions.

The army spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, posted to residents on X: "For your safety, you must evacuate immediately to the humanitarian zone."

The IDF destroyed much of Khan Younis in a long assault this year, but large numbers of Palestinians had moved back to escape another Israeli offensive in Gaza's southernmost city, Rafah.