The United Nations has estimated that up to 250,000 people are impacted by the Israeli military order for civilians to leave Al-Qarara, Bani Suhaila and other localities near the territory of 2.4 million's second city of Khan Younis.

"Over 1 million people have been displaced once again, desperately seeking shelter and safety (and) 1.9 million people are now displaced across Gaza... I'm deeply concerned about reports of new evacuation orders issued in the area of Khan Younis," Sigrid Kaag told the UN Security Council.

"Palestinian civilians in Gaza have been plunged into an abyss of suffering. Their homes life shattered, their lives upended. The war has not merely created the most profound of humanitarian crises. It has unleashed a maelstrom of human misery," Kaag added.

She said that not enough aid was reaching the war-torn strip, and that the opening of new crossings, particularly to southern Gaza, was necessary to avert a humanitarian disaster.

Kaag emphasized the need to reopen the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt -- currently occupied by Israel's army -- and urged the international community to bolster funding for relief efforts.

Israel's war on Gaza has killed at least 37,925 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Israel has not specifically said there will be a military operation in southern Gaza, but so far nearly every evacuation order has heralded an Israeli invasion, more displacement, and hundreds of Palestinian casualties.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online