Israel orders evacuation of southern Gaza ahead of major attack
The Israeli military called on Gazans to leave most settlements in the south of the strip, as it prepares to launch an 'unprecedented attack' against terrorist organisations in the area, according to an evacuation order issued in Arabic on Monday.
The order affects the larger cities of Rafah and Khan Younis, as well as all other settlements in southern Gaza except for Al-Mawasi, a map published by the military showed.
Gazans were told to move to Al-Mawasi in southwestern Gaza, which has been designated as a humanitarian zone during the war.
Militants continued to fire rockets from areas affected by the evacuation order, the Israeli military said, after reporting shelling from the south of the Palestinian territory on Monday morning.
According to eyewitnesses, many people heeded the call to evacuate.
However, a large number of deaths were reported from Khan Younis, the second largest city in Gaza, with the military reiterating that the city was considered a 'dangerous combat zone'.
The Nasser Hospital and Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis are exempt from the evacuation order, the military said.
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