Israel Orders Evacuation of Part of Humanitarian Zone in Gaza
Israel on Monday ordered the evacuation of several neighborhoods in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, including areas that the military had designated as part of a humanitarian zone. The Palestinian Civil Defense said that around 400K people would be affected by the order....
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Facts
- Israel on Monday ordered the evacuation of several neighborhoods in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, including areas that the military had designated as part of a humanitarian zone. The Palestinian Civil Defense said that around 400K people would be affected by the order.1
- Following the order, Israeli tanks moved into the greater Khan Younis area, with Gaza medics saying that at least 70 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said that two of its clinics east of the city had been knocked out of operation because of the new offensive.2
- The Israeli military said the operation was in response to rocket attacks from central Gaza into southern Israel, adding that Hamas had deeply embedded in the area. Hospitals would reportedly not be required to evacuate per a military source.3
- A large amount of Gaza's 2.3M population has been displaced in the conflict, living in squalid tent camps. Cease-fire negotiations which recently began will resume again on Thursday, according to the Israeli Prime Minister's office.4
- The Israeli military said on Sunday, in response to reports that polio has been found in Gaza's wastewater, that Israeli soldiers will be provided with vaccines — adding that it will bring over 1M shots for Palestinians in the besieged enclave.5
- Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN's primary agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), said that a UN convoy heading to Gaza City on Sunday came under Israeli fire, adding that the convoy's route had been coordinated and approved by Israeli authorities. The military did not immediately comment.6
Sources: 1Guardian, 2Reuters, 3Timesofisrael (a), 4Associated Press, 5USA Today and 6Timesofisrael (b).
Narratives
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by New York Times. Israel must be able to defend itself from terrorist attacks from Gaza or elsewhere, and the US is committed to preventing malicious actors from threatening Israel's legitimate concerns. However, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has gotten out of hand, and the Biden administration's red lines are clear. Netanyahu must be willing to work with the US and its allies to find a resolution to this conflict.
- Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Jerusalem Post. As Israel winds down the high-intensity phase of its war against terror, it will likely still need to have the ability to operate within the parts of Gaza in which Hamas has attempted to resurge. Indeed, Israel has gone so far as to disadvantage itself by potentially allowing terrorists to flee alongside the civilian population after it orders the evacuation of populated areas. Israel will continue to make military progress in Gaza for as long as it needs to.
- Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. It should be clear after over nine months of grinding brutality that Israel's true goal is to destroy Gaza and starve its people. Israel has failed miserably at defeating Hamas, as it continues to re-emerge in areas Israel has deemed 'cleared.' Continuing this genocidal war is simply a means to prolong Netanyahu's political career, and the US has helped him every step of the way.
