170 dead, hundreds injured in days of Israeli operation in Gaza

Gaza:

Gaza’s civil defense agency said on Saturday that Israel’s military operation around Khan Yunis has killed around 170 people and injured hundreds since it began on Monday.

“Since the start of the Israeli military operation in the Khan Yunis area, we are talking about approximately 170 martyrs and hundreds of injured people,” agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.

He said many people were displaced again on Saturday as the Israeli operation continued.

“The question is where will these residents go?” Basal said.

“Anyone who sees the situation in Khan Yunis will see thousands of people spread out on the ground, on the roads, in areas that unfortunately are not suitable for living.

“With no other options available, they are exposing themselves to death.”

Earlier on Saturday, the military issued new evacuation orders for residents of the southern city after recovering the bodies of five Israelis and warning of further operations.

The United Nations said more than 180,000 Palestinians have fled Khan Yunis since the Israeli operation began on Monday.

The evacuation orders and “intensified hostilities” have “significantly destabilized aid operations,” he added, reporting “terrible water, hygiene and sanitation conditions” across the Palestinian territory.

The Israeli military said it launched the operation to stop rocket fire in the area, which already saw heavy fighting earlier this year.

On Wednesday, it said troops recovered the bodies of five Israelis from the area.

They were killed during Hamas attacks on October 7 and their bodies taken back to Gaza, the military said.

On Saturday, it ordered residents in other parts of Khan Yunis “to temporarily evacuate to the adjusted humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi” – the second such adjustment made to the safe zone in the space of a week.

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