The notice was posted on X and sent to residents' phones as text and audio messages: "For your own safety, you must evacuate immediately to the newly established humanitarian area. The area you are in is considered a dangerous war zone."

In Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, evacuation orders were imposed for central, eastern and western districts, including part of a humanitarian zone that Israel said had been hit by rockets. Israel accuses Hamas and other militants of infiltrating civilians and launching attacks from residential areas.

Israel has repeatedly ordered mass evacuations as troops return to devastated areas where they fought Palestinian militants. Much of Gaza’s 2.3 million population has been displaced multiple times since the 10-month war.

The Israeli military said it had struck about 30 Hamas military targets in the previous 24 hours, including military installations, anti-tank missile launchers and weapons storage facilities.

Early on the morning of August 11, hundreds of families carrying their belongings in hand left their homes and shelters to find another place to take refuge.

“We don’t know where to go. This is my fourth displacement,” said Amal Abu Yahia, a widow with three children who returned to Khan Younis in June to take shelter in their severely damaged home. Her husband was killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a neighbor’s house in March.

She said she took her three children to Muwasi, a large tent camp along the coast, but could not find any space.

Ramadan Issa, a 50-year-old father of five, fled Khan Younis with hundreds of others toward central Gaza early on August 11.

“Every time we settle in a place and put up tents for women and children, the occupation comes and bombs the area,” he said, referring to Israel. “This situation is unbearable.”

The evacuation order was extended after an Israeli airstrike on a school shelter in Gaza City killed at least 90 people on August 10. The Israeli military said the operation targeted a Hamas and Islamic Jihad command post and killed 19 militants.

Hoai Phuong (according to Reuters, AP)