According to the United Nations, the expansion of Israeli attacks in the south of the Gaza Strip is leading to more and more deaths among the civilian population. “The number of civilians killed is increasing rapidly,” writes the Commissioner General of the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, in a statement. Civilians, including women, children, the elderly, the sick and people with disabilities, are the main victims of the war. With the resumption of the military operation and its expansion in southern Gaza, “the horrors of the past few weeks are being repeated,” laments Lazzarini.
The bombardment by Israeli forces continues after another evacuation order was issued to move people from the city of Khan Yunis to Rafah. “This order caused panic, fear and unrest,” it said. At least 60,000 more people have been forced to move to already overcrowded UNRWA shelters, and more are asking for protection, Lazzarini continues. Many of the people had already fled the war several times to other parts of the sealed off area.