The Israeli military has instructed civilians to evacuate a section of its designated humanitarian zone in southern Gaza, citing a planned “forceful operation” against Palestinian armed groups. This directive follows reports of “significant terrorist activity and rocket fire” from the eastern neighborhoods of Khan Younis. Residents were advised to move to the revised al-Mawasi humanitarian area.

Following the announcement, Palestinians reported heavy Israeli air and artillery strikes around Khan Younis. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry confirmed that at least 14 people, including six children and four women, had been killed. The ministry also called for blood donations at Nasser hospital due to the influx of casualties.

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Large portions of Khan Younis, Gaza’s second-largest city, were previously destroyed during an Israeli offensive. Many residents had returned after an operation in Rafah in May but were displaced again at the beginning of this month due to a new evacuation order. The UN had warned that the humanitarian zone was overcrowded and lacking essential services.

Israel has conducted several strikes in the humanitarian zone, claiming to target Palestinian fighters. On July 13, a strike in al-Mawasi allegedly killed over 90 people, including the head of Hamas’s military wing. Israel suspects that Mohammed Deif might be among the dead, though Hamas has not confirmed this.

In a separate incident, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) accused Israeli forces of firing at a marked UN convoy near the Wadi Gaza river valley. The convoy, which had coordinated its movements with Israeli authorities, was hit by bullets, though there were no casualties. The Israeli military is investigating the report.

Israel’s campaign in Gaza began after an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. Gaza’s health ministry reports over 38,980 deaths since the campaign started.