Israel issued new evacuation orders late Sunday for Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, forcing more families to flee amid plans to target Hamas and other militant groups operating in the area.
In recent days, Israel has issued a series of evacuation orders across Gaza—the most extensive since the beginning of the 10-month conflict—prompting an outcry from Palestinians, the United Nations, and relief officials over the shrinking humanitarian zones and the lack of safe areas.
The Deir al-Balah municipality reports that these orders have displaced 250,000 people so far.
Israeli airstrikes on Monday killed at least seven Palestinians, according to medics. Two were killed in Deir al-Balah, where around a million people were sheltering, two at a school in the Al-Nuseirat camp, and three in the southern city of Rafah near the Egyptian border.
The new evacuation orders forced many families and patients to leave Al-Aqsa Hospital, the main medical facility in Deir al-Balah, where hundreds of thousands of residents and displaced people had sought refuge, fearing bombardment. The hospital is located near the area covered by the evacuation notice.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) stated on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday night that an explosion approximately 250 meters (820 feet) from the MSF-supported Al-Aqsa Hospital caused widespread panic. MSF indicated that it is considering suspending wound care temporarily while attempting to continue life-saving treatment.
Of the roughly 650 patients at the hospital, only 100 remain, including seven in the intensive care unit, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
“This situation is unacceptable. Al-Aqsa has been operating far beyond capacity for weeks due to the lack of alternatives for patients. All warring parties must respect the hospital and ensure patients’ access to medical care,” the statement added.
