The Israeli military ordered Palestinians to leave southern neighbourhoods of Gaza's Khan Younis region so it could "forcefully operate" there, telling them to relocate to a humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi, a statement from the military said on Saturday.
The United Nations said more than 180,000 Palestinians have already fled fierce fighting in Khan Younis since the military began an operation in the area last Monday.
The evacuation orders and "intensified hostilities" have "significantly destabilised aid operations", the UN said, adding there is a "dire water, hygiene and sanitation conditions" in the Palestinian territory.
After Israel warned its forces would "forcefully operate" in the Khan Younis region, including an area previously declared a safe humanitarian zone, the Palestinian Health Ministry said on Monday that an Israeli operation in Khan Younis killed 70 people and wounded more than 200.
On Wednesday, the military said forces carried out a rescue operation in Khan Younis and retrieved the bodies of five Israelis.
They had been killed during the 7 October attack on Israel by Hamas, and their bodies were taken back to Gaza, the military said.
On Saturday, it ordered residents from more parts of Khan Younis "to temporarily evacuate to the adjusted humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi", the second adjustment made to the safe zone within a week.
Medics in Khan Younis' Nasser Hospital reported at least 16 bodies brought to the facility from different parts of the southern governorate on Friday.
The war in Gaza began after a surprise Hamas led attack on southern Israel on 7 October, resulting in the deaths of 1,197 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 39,175 people, according to the Palestinian health ministry, plunging the Strip into a deep humanitarian crisis.
(Reuters)