DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A well-known Palestinian doctor and eight members of his extended family were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday, despite having followed military orders to evacuate their home and relocate to an Israeli-designated safe zone.
The Hamdan family, consisting of around a dozen members spanning three generations, left their home in Khan Younis, a southern Gaza city, in the middle of the night following the Israeli military’s evacuation order. They sought refuge with relatives in a building further north within the safe zone, but tragically, an Israeli airstrike hit their new location in Deir al-Balah on Tuesday afternoon, resulting in the deaths of nine family members and three others.
The casualties included five children and three women, as confirmed by hospital records and a surviving relative.
Israel’s evacuation order for the eastern part of Khan Younis has precipitated the third mass exodus of Palestinians in recent months, adding to the confusion, chaos, and suffering experienced by the population as they once again seek safety.
Approximately 250,000 individuals reside in the affected area, according to the United Nations, many of whom had only recently returned to their homes after fleeing previous Israeli incursions or sought refuge following other Israeli offensives.
The evacuation alert also led to the hurried departure of European General Hospital, Gaza’s second-largest medical facility, which was located within the evacuation zone. The hospital was closed as staff, patients, and displaced individuals were evacuated, with some families resorting to transporting patients in their beds for several kilometers to ensure their safety.
Following the evacuation order, the Israeli military clarified that the hospital was not intended to be evacuated, but given past Israeli attacks on Gaza hospitals, the decision to vacate was made out of fear for the facility’s safety.
Israel’s targeted strikes on hospitals, allegedly due to Hamas using them for military purposes, have been denied by Gaza’s medical authorities.
In response to the evacuation directive, numerous individuals fled eastern Khan Younis, though the exact number remains unknown. This latest wave of displacement is in addition to the million people who fled Rafah since May and tens of thousands displaced by recent Israeli operations in northern Gaza’s Shijaiyah district.
As Munir Hamza, a father who fled his home in Khan Younis with his children, lamented, “We left everything behind. We are tired of moving and displacement… This is unbearable.”
Nowhere Safe
Up to 15 members of the Hamdan family sought shelter with relatives in Deir al-Balah after leaving their Khan Younis residence. Tragically, the building they occupied was within the extended “humanitarian zone” declared by the Israeli military during the Rafah offensive in May.
The fatal airstrike occurred around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, resulting in significant casualties within the building. Asmaa Salim, a surviving relative, reported that almost everyone inside was killed in the attack.
The deceased included the family patriarch, Dr. Hassan Hamdan, a 62-year-old dermatologist, his wife, adult son, and daughter, as well as four grandchildren and their mother. Additionally, a man and his 5-year-old son from the building, and another man outside, lost their lives in the strike, which also wounded several others.
The Israeli military has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the airstrike.
Flight from Khan Younis
Although Monday’s evacuation order suggested a potential ground assault on Khan Younis, there were no immediate signs of such an operation. Israel’s return to previously invaded parts of Gaza underscores the ongoing threat posed by Hamas, even after nearly nine months of conflict.
Israeli estimates indicate that approximately 1.8 million Palestinians now reside in the designated humanitarian zone along Gaza’s Mediterranean coast. However, the area lacks adequate sanitation and medical facilities, with limited access to essential supplies, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The current situation in Gaza, characterized by fighting, restrictions on movement, and general disorder, has severely hindered aid delivery. The Norwegian Refugee Council’s recent findings highlight the dire conditions faced by displaced families, including food and water shortages.
As families continue to flee Khan Younis, many are struggling to find accommodation within the overcrowded safe zone. Um Abdel-Rahman and Noha al-Bana shared their harrowing experiences of displacement and fear for their safety.
Magdy and Keath reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Sarah El Deeb in Beirut contributed to this report.
