GAZA STRIP: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departed for Washington on Monday to deliver a key speech, as the military ordered fresh evacuations in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis before sending in troops.
Netanyahu called the visit Monday a “very important trip” that comes at a time of “great political uncertainty”, referring to US President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek re-election and as Washington pushes Israel to seek a ceasefire deal with Hamas.
The premier is due to meet Biden on Tuesday and address the US Congress the day after. He departs Israel with significant domestic pressure to agree to a truce and hostage release deal in Gaza.
The nine-month-old war in the Palestinian territory raged on unabated on Monday, with Israel telling civilians in the eastern part of Khan Yunis to evacuate.
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There was already intense shelling in the city on Monday, eyewitnesses said, while a medical source in the city’s Nasser Hospital told AFP the toll from the bombing in Khan Yunis since dawn today has reached 26 dead. The health ministry had said there were 14 killed.
In a statement, the Israeli military said “due to significant terrorist activity and rocket fire toward the state of Israel… remaining in this area has become dangerous”.
It said its forces were “about to forcefully operate” in the area and told Gazans to move to Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone.
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Al-Mawasi has been the site of several deadly incidents in recent months and displaced Palestinians told AFP it was already full.
Youssef Abu Taimah, from the town of Al-Qarara in Khan Yunis, said his family headed to the humanitarian area but found no space.
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