Mass Exodus from Khan Younis as Gaza Faces Unprecedented Humanitarian Crisis

 

 

 Khan Younis, Gaza – The United Nations reports that over 150,000 residents have fled Khan Younis in southern Gaza since Monday following an evacuation order from the Israeli Army. This directive came amid intensified military operations and a reduction in the size of al-Maazi, previously designated as a humanitarian zone but now claimed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to be used by Hamas fighters.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) stated that 80% of Gaza is currently either under an evacuation order or classified as a no-go zone. The mass displacement has created severe humanitarian challenges, with families escaping war and uncertainty in the sweltering heat and under the constant threat of violence.

In Khan Younis, the streets are filled with desperate scenes of people fleeing. A local resident, Aan al-Kawaji, was seen rushing through the chaos with his child, whose condition had already deteriorated beyond the help of doctors. "Who can accept that their son will be like this?" he asked, reflecting the anguish of many parents who have lost their loved ones in the conflict.

The IDF's renewed operations in Khan Younis come as Hamas fighters mount a resilient defense. The urban warfare has turned residential areas into battlegrounds, with nowhere deemed safe. To the south, in Rafah, Hamas continues to launch hit-and-run attacks against Israeli armor from within houses, prolonging the conflict which has now dragged on for several months.

The healthcare system in Gaza is on the brink of collapse. Hospitals are overwhelmed with the wounded, struggling to provide care with dwindling resources. Among the victims are young siblings Sami, aged four, and his sister Ca, aged seven. Both are now at Nasser Hospital, with Sami suffering from severe abdominal injuries and Ca left paralyzed. "The situation has been very difficult for me," said their father, "with one child in intensive care and the other outside."

International concern over the plight of Gaza’s wounded children has prompted responses from Israeli officials. An ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, "Priority for me, alongside humanitarian aid, is to bring back our hostages, including infants taken by Hamas." He highlighted the ongoing uncertainty regarding the fate of children like four-year-old Ariel and one-year-old Cfir, taken hostage with their parents by Hamas, saying, "If you really care about the kids on the other side, ensure that Israel wins the war and Hamas does not reign in Gaza."

As night falls, Iman al-Kawaji mourns over the shrouded body of her child, preparing for yet another burial in a land where grief has become a constant companion. The conflict shows no signs of abating, leaving Gaza’s residents trapped in a cycle of fear, loss, and an unrelenting fight for survival.

*Fergal Keane, BBC News, Jerusalem*