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OHCHR’s condemnation came in response to Monday’s evacuation order, which the agency said worsened the already dire situation for civilians in the area. On July 22, Israel reportedly launched several airstrikes in Bani Suheila, al-Qarara, and Abasan al-Kabira, as well as intensified shelling in eastern Khan Younis. At least 70 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed in those operations, and the death toll continues to rise.
Around the same time as the airstrikes, the Israeli army issued an evacuation order for the eastern parts of Khan Younis, including areas designated as a humanitarian zone. The OHCHR noted that despite the evacuation order, Israeli military operations in and around the area continued unabated, further endangering civilians.
OHCHR also emphasized that the evacuation order included parts of Salah al-Deen Road, one of the most important aid transport and distribution routes. This raised concerns that the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid would be further impeded or blocked.
In its statement, the OHCHR emphasized the grave danger that such evacuation orders pose to civilians. “There is no safe place in Gaza,” the agency said, stressing that at the same time the party’s confusing mass evacuation orders, which fuel attacks, put civilians at greater risk and could increase the damage they cause.
OHCHR’s condemnation underscores the wider humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, where ongoing military operations and refugees continue to endanger civilian lives. The international community continues to be concerned about the escalation of violence and its impact on vulnerable populations and calls on both sides to prioritize the protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian law.
As the situation in Gaza worsens, the demand for immediate humanitarian intervention and a cessation of hostilities increases.