Israel launched fresh strikes in southern Gaza on Tuesday, prompting hundreds of Palestinians to flee. Witnesses reported multiple strikes in and around the city of Khan Yunis, where eight people were killed and more than 30 were wounded, according to a medical source and the Palestinian Red Crescent.
The bombardment followed a rare rocket barrage claimed by the militant group Islamic Jihad, which has fought alongside Hamas. The rockets were aimed at Israeli communities near the Gaza border and were fired in retaliation for Israeli “crimes… against our Palestinian people,” said the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad.
The Israeli military reported that about “20 projectiles were identified crossing from the area of Khan Yunis,” most of which were intercepted. No casualties were reported, and artillery was “striking the sources of the fire.”
This was preceded on Monday by an order to evacuate Al-Qarara, Bani Suhaila, and other towns in Rafah and Khan Yunis, nearly two months after an initial order to evacuate Rafah ahead of a ground offensive.