IDF Arabic spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee called on residents of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza and the surrounding areas to evacuate in a post on X/Twitter on Monday.

He noted that the IDF would operate against terror groups in the area and told civilians to evacuate westward. 

Earlier on Monday morning, the IDF intensified strikes on Khan Yunis, but stated that there were "no changes in the situational assessment." 

The IDF conducted an operation in Khan Yunis attempting to arrest Ahmed Kamel Sarhan,  senior commander in the Al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades of the "Popular Resistance Committees," the third-largest terror organization in Gaza.

According to Hamas, Sarhan "thwarted" the arrest attempt and was "martyred in direct confrontation" with the IDF.

Palestinians at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Khan Yunis, the southern Gaza Strip, April 27, 2025 (credit: ABED RAHIM KHATIB/FLASH90)
Palestinians at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Khan Yunis, the southern Gaza Strip, April 27, 2025 (credit: ABED RAHIM KHATIB/FLASH90)
The IDF responded to reports, stating, "Contrary to recent reports, there is no change in the situational assessment."

"The IDF is in the midst of Operation 'Gideon's Chariots' and is operating throughout the Gaza Strip."

This follows the IDF expanding operations throughout the Gaza Strip in the renewed operation "Gideon's Chariots" and intensified airstrikes on Saturday and Sunday night.  

The military carried out strikes on Monday night in several locations across the Gaza Strip, including Deir al-Balah, Bani Suhelia east of Khan Yunis, south of Nuseirat, and in Gaza City.

Increased Israeli air force strikes, Gazans move south

Palestinians reported that more than 148 people were killed in the past 24 hours.

According to Palestinian security sources, over 400,000 Palestinians have already moved from northern Gaza to the south. 

The Israeli air force is continuously striking targets in Khan Yunis.

Additionally, the IDF on Monday confirmed that Combat Engineers from the Yahalom Unit destroyed the tunnel which terrorists used to kill Yahalom soldiers, Captain Noam Ravid and Staff Sergeant Yaly Seror, in Rafah, earlier in May.

This is a developing story.