The Israeli army ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from much of Khan Younis on Monday, indicating that troops are likely to launch a new ground assault in Gaza’s second-largest city.
The order suggested that Khan Younis will be the latest target of Israel’s repeated raids into parts of Gaza it has already invaded over the past eight months, as they pursue Hamas militants who are regrouping.
Much of Khan Younis had already been destroyed in a prolonged assault earlier this year, but large numbers of Palestinians have since moved back in to escape another Israeli offensive in Gaza’s southernmost city, Rafah.
The evacuation order covered the entire eastern half of Khan Younis and surrounding areas. Last week, the military ordered a similar evacuation from the north Gaza district of Shujaiya, which has seen intensive fighting since.
The order came as Israel released the director of Gaza’s main hospital after holding him for seven months without charge or trial over allegations that the facility had been used as a Hamas command center. He stated that he and other detainees were held under harsh conditions and tortured.
The decision to release Mohammed Abu Selmia raised questions about Israel’s claims regarding Shifa Hospital, which Israeli forces have raided twice since the start of the nearly nine-month war with Hamas. Abu Selmia and other Palestinian health officials have denied the accusations.
His release triggered an uproar across Israel’s political spectrum. Government ministers and opposition leaders expressed outrage and insisted that Abu Selmia played a role in Hamas’ alleged use of the hospital—though Israeli security services rarely unilaterally free prisoners if they suspect militant links.
The decision appeared to have been made to free up space in overcrowded detention centers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an inquiry, his office said, though it added that security officials independently determine whom to release “based on their professional considerations.”
Abu Selmia was released back into Gaza along with 54 other Palestinian detainees, many of whom also alleged abuse. The allegations could not be independently confirmed but matched other accounts of Palestinians held in Israeli custody.
“Our detainees have been subjected to all kinds of torture behind bars,” Abu Selmia said at a news conference after his release. “There was almost daily torture.” He claimed that guards broke his finger and caused his head to bleed during beatings, in which they used batons and dogs.
He also alleged that medical staff at different facilities where he was held took part in the abuse “in violation of all laws.” He said some detainees had limbs amputated due to poor medical care.
There was no immediate response from the prison service, which has previously denied similar accusations.
Israeli forces raided Shifa Hospital in November, alleging that Hamas had created an elaborate command and control center inside the facility. Abu Selmia and other staff denied the allegations and accused Israel of recklessly endangering thousands of patients and displaced people who were sheltering there.
