Israeli Attacks On South Gaza Forced Thousands Of Israelis To Refuge

Eight Palestinians were killed and dozens injured when Israeli forces bombarded several areas of Khan Younis and Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Thousands of Palestinians fled Israeli-hit territory.

The Israeli Army (IDF) ordered residents in several cities and villages east of Khan Younis to flee their homes on Monday, July 1, before the tanks re-entered the military-led area a few weeks ago.

Thousands of people who did not comply with the call were forced to flee their homes in darkness overnight, as Israeli tanks and planes bombed Karara, Abassan and other areas mentioned in the evacuation order, residents and Hamas media said.

"Where are we going?" said Tamer, a 55-year-old businessman, who has been displaced six times since October 7.

"Every time people return to their homes and start rebuilding some of their lives even on the rubble of their homes, the occupation sends the tanks back to destroy what's left," he told Reuters via a chat app reported Tuesday, July 2.

The Israeli military said its forces attacked the area in Khan Younis where about 20 rockets were fired on Monday. Its targets include weapons storage facilities and operational centers, he added.

It said steps were taken before the attack to ensure civilians were not injured by allowing them to flee the area, referring to evacuation orders.

The Israeli military accuses Hamas of using civilian infrastructure and the wider community of human shields. The militant group denies that.