An Israeli military order to evacuate an area covering about 20 percent of central and south Khan Younis has sparked fear among civilians in the south of a further expansion of Israel’s military operation, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud reports from Khan Younis.

“A large number of people are going to be affected by this order and will end up being displaced,” Mahmoud said.

“The central part [of Khan Younis] is the heart of the city with the major public facilities, including part of the Ministry of Health’s operation centre, the Nasser hospital, the Jordanian field hospital and most of its residential buildings,” he added.