Protests Erupt Against Hamas in Khan Younis as IDF Declares Combat Zone

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – For the first time in weeks, anti-Hamas protests erupted in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Monday, with hundreds of residents taking to the streets amid escalating military activity. Protesters could be seen in footage released by local media chanting, “Stop the war and the displacement! Hamas out!”

This demonstration marked a significant escalation of public frustration with Hamas, which has ruled the coastal enclave since 2007. While smaller protests have occurred in the north in recent weeks, the demonstration in Khan Younis signals growing civilian unrest as living conditions continue to deteriorate.

Simultaneously, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a sweeping evacuation order for the city, declaring all of Khan Younis a “combat zone.” Residents were instructed to evacuate to the al-Mawasi area ahead of what was described by the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson as an “unprecedented offensive.”

Media reports from Al Arabiya indicated that thousands have already begun evacuating the area on foot, with footage circulating showing residents carrying their belongings through damaged streets. According to UNRWA and local testimonies, compliance with evacuation orders has been inconsistent in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, humanitarian concerns remain dire. The World Health Organization’s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “The risk of famine in Gaza is increasing with the deliberate withholding of humanitarian aid.” Aid groups have warned that over two million people are facing starvation as military operations escalate.

Despite these warnings, the IDF has stepped up operations in Khan Younis and elsewhere as part of Operation “Gideon’s Chariots,” with airstrikes reported in Deir al-Balah, Bani Suhelia, and Gaza City.

مسيرات ضخمة تخرج الان في كافة مناطق وشوارع خانيونس جنوب قطاع غزة تطالب بايقاف الحرب بشكل فوري وباي ثمن #اوقفوا_الحرب pic.twitter.com/sWWCuXWh9l

— زاهر ابو حسين (@ZAHERABUHUSIEN) May 19, 2025

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