The Israeli army has ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from much of Khan Younis, signaling a potential new ground assault on Gaza Strip’s second-largest city. This move suggests that Khan Younis will be the latest target in Israel’s ongoing raids into parts of Gaza, as it continues to pursue regrouping Hamas militants. Earlier this year, much of Khan Younis was destroyed in a prolonged assault, but many Palestinians had returned to escape another Israeli offensive in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city.
The evacuation order, which covered the eastern half of Khan Younis and a large portion of the Gaza Strip’s southeast corner, came as Israel released Mohammed Abu Selmia, the director of what was once Gaza’s largest hospital. Abu Selmia had been held for seven months without charge or trial, with Israel alleging that the hospital had been used as a Hamas command center—a claim he and other Palestinian health officials have denied. Abu Selmia reported that he and other detainees were subjected to harsh conditions and torture.
The release of Abu Selmia has sparked controversy across Israel’s political spectrum. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called it “a grave mistake,” and both government ministers and opposition leaders expressed outrage, insisting that Abu Selmia played a role in Hamas’ alleged use of the hospital. However, Israeli security services rarely release prisoners if they suspect militant links.
As night fell, streams of civilians began evacuating Khan Younis, carrying essential belongings such as mattresses, clothing, and plastic buckets. Vehicles were piled high with possessions and furniture. Zeinab Abu Jazar, a displaced woman, tearfully recounted receiving the evacuation message on her mobile phone and struggling to find transportation for her children.
Israel has directed evacuees to move to Muwasi, a coastal area designated as a safe zone by the Israeli army, which has become crowded with unsanitary tent camps. The evacuation order suggests that a new assault on Khan Younis is imminent. Israeli forces had previously fought for weeks in Khan Younis and claimed to have destroyed Hamas battalions, but renewed raids in other areas have shown that Hamas remains capable.
Last week, the military ordered an evacuation from the north Gaza district of Shijaiyah, leading to intensive fighting. Netanyahu stated that the military is making progress toward ending the phase of destroying Hamas’ terror army but will continue to target remaining elements.
The potential new assault on Khan Younis could further hinder Palestinians’ access to potable water. The evacuation zone includes a water line installed by Israel following criticism over its earlier cutoff of water to Gaza. The zone also encompasses the area around the Kerem Shalom crossing, a major aid route to southern Gaza, which Israel has pledged to safeguard.
Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have fled their homes, many being displaced multiple times. Israeli restrictions, ongoing fighting, and the breakdown of public order have severely hampered the delivery of humanitarian aid, leading to widespread hunger and fears of famine. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the new evacuation order demonstrates that no place in Gaza is safe for Palestinian civilians, calling for a cease-fire.
The release of Abu Selmia and 54 other Palestinian detainees appears to be an effort to free up space in overcrowded detention centers. Since the start of the war, Israeli forces have detained thousands of Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank, many held without charge or trial in administrative detention. Abu Selmia described the torture and harsh conditions faced by detainees, including beatings, terrorization with dogs, and inadequate medical care leading to amputations.
Israeli forces raided Shifa Hospital in November, alleging that Hamas had established a command center there. Abu Selmia and other staff denied these allegations, accusing Israel of endangering thousands of patients and displaced people sheltering in the hospital. During the raid, the military uncovered a tunnel leading to two empty rooms and evidence that militants had brought wounded hostages to the facility, but this fell short of proving an extensive base as claimed.
The uproar over Abu Selmia’s release has led to blame-shifting among various Israeli state organs responsible for detentions. Netanyahu’s office stated that Abu Selmia “belongs in prison” and ordered a thorough review of the release decision, which was made without the knowledge of the political echelon or the heads of the organizations. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir blamed the Defense Ministry, while the Defense Ministry pointed to the prison service and the Shin Bet internal security agency. The Shin Bet stated that Abu Selmia had passed a risk assessment and that the government had decided to release detainees deemed less of a threat to free up space.
Israel launched its offensive following Hamas’ October 7 attack, in which Palestinian militants killed approximately 1,200 people across southern Israel and took another 250 hostage. In its campaign, Israel has killed at least 37,900 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths.
Most of Gaza’s population has been displaced multiple times, with humanitarian aid delivery severely hindered by Israeli restrictions, ongoing fighting, and the breakdown of public order. The U.S. military constructed a pier to bring aid into Gaza, but it was removed due to weather conditions. U.S. officials have indicated that the Pentagon may not reinstall the pier unless aid begins flowing out to the population again.
Netanyahu reiterated that the military is making progress in its campaign against Hamas but emphasized that forces will continue to target remaining elements.
Source: AP News, CBS News
