Israeli Bombardment Triggers Mass Exodus in Southern Gaza.

Israeli forces launched widespread artillery bombardment of several neighborhoods in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, triggering a mass exodus of thousands of Palestinians from their homes. The escalation could mark the final stage of Israel’s nine-month military operation.

Health officials reported that eight Palestinians were killed in those attacks and several more were wounded. The Israeli army confirmed the deaths of two soldiers in fighting the previous day. Israel official’s said they were nearing the end of a period of intense fighting with Hamas, the Islamist group that has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, and wanted to move to more precise operations. Later that day, an Israel tank attack in the densely populated Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City killed 17 Palestinians, medical sources said.

Footage posted on Palestinian social media the authenticity of which Reuters could not immediately verify, showed scenes at a local market with bread strewn on the bloodstained floor. The Israeli army ordered residents of several towns and villages in eastern Khan Yunis to evacuate on Monday before tanks re-entered areas the army had cleared weeks ago.

Residents and Hamas media reported that Israeli tanks and aircraft hit Karara, Abassan and other areas listed in the evacuation order forcing thousands who disobeyed the order to flee overnight.

“Where can we go?” questioned Tamer, a 55-year-old businessman displaced six times since October 7. “Every time people return to their homes and attempt to rebuild their lives amidst the rubble, the occupation forces return with tanks to destroy whatever remains,” he told Reuters through a chat application.

The Israeli army said it’s forces attacked a position in Khan Yunis on Monday from which about 20 rockets were fired. The attack was focused on an arms depot and an operations center, according to the army.

The army stressed that precautions had been taken to minimize civilian damage through evacuation orders before the attack. Hamas accused it of using civilian infrastructure and residents as human shields, a claim Hamas denies.

Hamas-allied Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the rocket attack. According to Israeli reports, the Gaza conflict erupted when Hamas militias invaded southern Israel on October 7 killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages including civilians and soldiers. These were returned to Gaza.

According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, Israel’s retaliatory operations have claimed the lives of about 38,000people and devastated the densely populated coastal areas.

The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, but officials claim most of the casualties are civilians. Israel claims 320 of its soldiers have been killed in Gaza and estimates that at least a third of the Palestinian deaths were caused by militants.

The evacuation order also affected the European Gaza Hospital which serves both the Khan Younis and Rafah areas forcing the evacuation of patients and families seeking refuge there,
witnesses and medical staff said.

Some residents moved towards the coastal neighborhood of Mawashi, which had been designated a humanitarian zone but was already crowded with displaced families. With no shelter available many were forced to sleep on the streets.

Israel claims it is nearing completion of an operation to eliminate Hamas’ last stronghold in Rafah near the Egyptian border. After this phase, Israeli forces will focus on smaller operations to prevent Hamas from regrouping. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is close to achieving its goal of neutralizing Hamas’ military power. Less intensive operations will continue after that, he noted.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad continue to attack Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip and fire rockets at Israel. Hamas claims Israel has failed to achieve its war objectives and says it is prepared to continue the conflict for years. Efforts to broker a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and secure the release of hostages have stalled.

Hamas demands that any agreement must end the war and lead to a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Israel, on the other hand, is only willing to agree to a moratorium on fighting until Hamas is completely destroyed.