ANKARA: At least four Palestinians were killed Sunday when an Israeli army shelling targeted Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Medical sources in the Nasser Medical Complex told Anadolu that the attack occurred when an Israeli shelling targeted a gathering of civilians in central Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Earlier Sunday, the Israeli army issued evacuation orders for residents of the 'humanitarian safe zone' in Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip. However, it started attacking the area shortly afterward resulting in casualties, according to witnesses. This marks the third time in about a week that the Israeli army has expanded its evacuation orders in Khan Younis, where it announced the start of an offensive military operation on Friday. Despite appeals Thursday from mediators, including Egypt, the US and Qatar, to stop hostilities and reach a cease-fire and a hostage exchange agreement, Israel persists with its deadly onslaught against Gaza. The Israeli onslaught has killed nearly 39,8 00 victims since October following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas. More than 10 months into the Israeli onslaught, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine. Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6. Source : Anadolu Agency