By Mohammad Dahman – Originally published in Arabic by WAFA News: On May 19, Israeli forces issued a mass evacuation order for Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza, instructing residents to relocate immediately to Al-Mawasi, a coastal area in the west.
The sudden directive triggered an unprecedented wave of displacement, forcing over 150,000 people to flee under dire humanitarian conditions, with no access to water, electricity, or basic necessities.
Among those affected is Fahmi Atiya Al-Jazzar, a 64-year-old retired health ministry employee, who had previously sought shelter in Khan Younis after escaping Rafah.
Speaking to Wafa News Agency, he described the ordeal, saying that after moving to Hamad in Khan Younis, he was forced to flee again with his children and grandchildren when evacuation orders were issued. “Now, 31 of us are living in a single tent,” he said.
Since October 7, 2023, when Israel launched its military offensive, at least 1.9 million Palestinians, nearly 90% of Gaza’s population, have been displaced, according to United Nations reports.
Many have been forced to flee multiple times, some as many as ten times or more, as evacuation orders intensify. Yet, no place in Gaza remains truly safe.
Stories of Survival Amid Widespread Devastation
Fathi Abu Shaab, a resident of Al-Qarara, north of Khan Younis, recounted the chaos and desperation of fleeing his home.
“I left with my wife, three sons, and my only daughter, carrying nothing, not clothes, furniture, or even blankets. We fled with nothing but our lives. That first night, we slept on the bare ground, under the open sky, suffering from cold, hunger, and fear. We had no shelter until kind-hearted people donated plastic sheets to cover my family.”
Overwhelmed by emotion, he urged international intervention, saying, “All we ask for is protection from this nightmare, from this brutality.”
In Abasan Al-Jadida, east of Khan Younis, Eman Al-Zeer, a 35-year-old mother of four, shared her heartbreaking experience.
“I have been displaced more than 15 times, moving from one place to another. I can’t endure running anymore. On January 17, 2024, at 3 a.m., my entire family, my father, mother, brothers, sister, and my pregnant sister-in-law, were killed in a massacre that destroyed our home. Only my four children and I survived. My daughters are 16 and 14, my sons are 15 and 8. Now, we live in a tent atop the rubble of our house in Abasan because I refuse to flee again.”
Her voice shook as she described the harsh living conditions. “Water is available for only two hours a day. The canned food I had stored has run out. There is no electricity, no food, no medicine. We are waiting for mercy.”
In a desperate plea for international action, Eman said, “This war has taken my family, my strength, my support. We call on Palestine’s friends, on people of conscience around the world, to intervene and end this nightmare, to provide us with protection.”
A Humanitarian Disaster
For nearly 20 months, Israeli forces have targeted dozens of shelters, including schools, universities, hospital courtyards, and areas previously deemed ‘safe zones.’ These strikes have caused thousands of deaths and injuries, with women and children making up most of the casualties.
More than 235 displacement centers have been destroyed, leaving countless families without refuge.
Gaza is now facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, as severe famine and medical shortages grip the population.
Since March 2, 2025, Israel has sealed off border crossings, preventing the entry of food, medicine, fuel, and humanitarian aid.
The blockade has intensified civilian suffering, with over 177,000 casualties, thousands reported missing, and hundreds of thousands displaced.
With 1.5 million people—out of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents, now homeless, the ongoing genocide has obliterated entire neighborhoods, leaving families with nowhere left to go.
