Israeli forces intensified bombardment across several areas of the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, prompting thousands of Palestinians to flee their homes amid what appears to be a final phase of Israel’s extensive military campaign over the past nine months of conflict.
Health officials reported eight Palestinians killed and dozens wounded, while Israel’s military confirmed two soldiers had died in previous clashes.
Israeli leaders indicated a shift from intense combat operations against Hamas, the ruling Islamist group in Gaza since 2007, towards more targeted military actions. Later on Tuesday, medics reported 17 Palestinians killed in Israeli tank shelling in Gaza City’s densely populated Zeitoun neighborhood, with unverified social media footage showing chaotic scenes at a local market.
Residents in eastern Khan Younis were ordered to evacuate on Monday ahead of renewed Israeli military operations, forcing many to flee overnight amid bombings in Karara, Abassan, and other targeted areas.
Tamer, a 55-year-old businessman displaced six times since October, voiced the despair of many affected, lamenting the cycle of destruction and rebuilding disrupted by repeated military actions.
The Israeli military stated its strikes targeted areas in Khan Younis used for launching rockets, emphasizing precautions taken to safeguard civilians through prior evacuation notices. It accused Hamas of using civilian infrastructure as shields, a charge the group denies.
The conflict, originating with Hamas incursions into southern Israel in October, has resulted in significant casualties and widespread devastation in Gaza, with rebuilding efforts repeatedly interrupted by military actions.
