Israel said Saturday its military had completed the takeover of a new corridor in southern Gaza, advancing its efforts to seize large parts of the war-battered Palestinian territory. It also announced a sweeping evacuation order for tens of thousands of residents of Khan Yunis and surrounding areas in southern Gaza as it launched strikes after

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israeli army operations would soon 'intensify and expand to other areas throughout most of Gaza,' as an evacuation order was issued for Khan Yunis ahead of a rocket attack.

Israel imposed a monthlong blockade on food, fuel and humanitarian aid that has left the territory’s roughly 2 million Palestinians facing acute shortages.