'No place to go': Israel orders evacuation of Khan Younis ahead of 'unprecedented attack'

The Israeli military on Monday (May 19) ordered residents of several towns in southern Gaza to evacuate immediately, warning of an imminent and “unprecedented” assault aimed at destroying Hamas infrastructure in the area.

In a post on the social media platform X, Israeli Defense Forces Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged residents of Khan Younis, Bani Suheila and Abasan to leave for the coastal Mawasi area, which Israel has designated as a humanitarian zone.

“The IDF will launch an unprecedented attack to destroy the capabilities of terrorist organisations in this area,” Adraee wrote. “From this moment, Khan Younis governorate will be considered a dangerous combat zone.”

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#عاجل ‼️ الى سكان محافظة خان يونس، بني سهيلا وعبسان
⭕️جيش الدفاع الإسرائيلي سوف يشن هجوماً غير مسبوق لتدمير قدرات المنظمات الإرهابية في هذه المنطقة
⭕️عليكم الأخلاء فوراً غرباً الى منطقة المواصي⭕️
⭕️من هذه اللحظة، ستعتبر محافظة خانيونس منطقة قتال خطيرة
⭕️المنظمات الإرهابية جلبت… pic.twitter.com/1yqOLDVTKK

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) May 19, 2025

The evacuation order follows similar warnings issued Sunday (May 18) for parts of central Gaza, as Israel intensifies its military operations across the enclave. The campaign, which includes heavy aerial bombardment, has already displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians since the conflict began.

One woman in Khan Younis told the BBC the new order was her “worst nightmare.” Another woman, already under evacuation orders in central Gaza, said she would not leave. “There is no place to go,” she said.

Israel plans to take over Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier Monday that Israel would "take control" of the entire Gaza Strip, signalling a further escalation in the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

The stated reason for justifying this offensive, started Saturday (May 17) as the two sides entered indirect talks in Qatar on a deal, is to prevent the Palestinian group Hamas from looting aid meant for the population of Gaza, which is suffering extensively because of Israeli military strikes and actions in the ongoing war in West Asia.

With inputs from AFP