According to Reuters, residents in a part of the southern city of Gaza were evacuated by Israel on Wednesday as they carried out an aerial assault on a Hamas-run district. The Israeli military provided details about the evacuation, stating that a quarter of the city near Khan Yunis must be evacuated. They also mentioned that the road from Khan Yunis to the border crossing is now closed due to it being a “war zone”. In Rafah, locals attempted to rescue individuals trapped under the rubble from the night’s bombardment.

More than 80 percent of the 2.3 million residents in Gaza have been displaced by Israel’s incursion, with over 350,000 people living there before the hostilities began. Israel has stated that their unilateral withdrawals from certain areas are in an effort to protect civilians and has called on international organizations to assist in relocating residents to safe areas according to their maps. Some residents have already left for other areas in Rafah, but others question why they were forced out of their homes in Gaza only to face danger in another location.

Overall, the situation in Gaza remains tense as Israel continues its aerial assault on a Hamas-run district and fights militants in the surrounding neighborhoods. The evacuation of residents from certain areas is seen as a precautionary measure to protect civilians from retaliatory airstrikes. However, the displacement of a large portion of the population raises concerns about their safety and well-being. International organizations are being called upon to provide assistance and help facilitate the relocation of residents to safer areas.