Israel orders evacuations in southern Gaza as ground offensive expands

3/6/2025 7:10

The Israeli military on Monday ordered residents in parts of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, to evacuate immediately ahead of an expected ground operation, as it intensified its offensive in the enclave.



Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued the evacuation order via social media platform X, warning that troops would operate with "extreme force" in targeted residential areas. He urged civilians to move westward to the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone.



Adraee added that the evacuation order did not apply to Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis.



Earlier in the day, the IDF said it had expanded its ground activities in Gaza over the past 24 hours. The escalation follows a directive on Sunday from Israeli military chief Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir to widen the campaign in both northern and southern Gaza.



The military also reported that, in coordination with the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, it had targeted militants inside a Hamas command and control center in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza.



The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) previously warned that the space for civilians is "shrinking dramatically" as the Israeli military continues to displace populations from many areas.