Israel has ordered residents out of the centre of Gaza’s main southern city Khan Younis and pounded the length of the enclave, Reuters reports.

Israel’s Arabic-language spokesperson posted a map on X highlighting six numbered blocks of Khan Younis that residents were told to evacuate “urgently”. They included parts of the city centre that had not been subject to such orders before. No explanation was given.

“It might be a matter of time before they act against our area too. We have been hearing bombing all night,” said Zainab Khalil, 57, displaced with 30 of her relatives and friends in Khan Younis near Jalal Street where troops told people to leave.

“We don’t sleep at night, we stay awake, we try to put the children to sleep and we stay up fearing the place would be bombed and will have to run carrying the children out. During the day begins another tragedy, and that is: how to feed the children?” she said.