• 150,000 have fled Gaza’s Khan Younis since Monday, UN says
• The IDF issued an evacuation order for parts of Khan Younis and reduced the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone
• Meanwhile, the WHO expressed concerns about a potential polio outbreak in Gaza after finding traces in wastewater

150,000 have fled Gaza’s Khan Younis since Monday, UN says

Over 150,000 people have fled Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip since Monday, according to two UN agencies. This exodus follows a new Israeli military offensive targeting Hamas forces. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued an evacuation order for parts of Khan Younis and reduced the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone, citing its use by Hamas for terrorist activities and rocket fire.

UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, estimates that 150,000 people have fled since the evacuation order, with many seeking refuge in displacement camps or hospitals.

“Over 80% of the Gaza Strip has been placed under evacuation orders or designated as no-go zones by the Israeli military,” Louise Wateridge, a UNRWA official, has said. 

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization expressed concerns about a potential polio outbreak in Gaza after finding traces in wastewater.

Israel’s offensive in Gaza was launched in response to a Hamas attack on October 7, which killed around 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages. Since then, more than 39,000 people have died in Gaza, according to the health ministry.