BBCBBC Verify analysis revealed that the area in Gaza, where the Israeli army has told people to go “for their safety”, has been subjected to 97 raids since May.
These results come at a time when it appears that ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas are close to achieving a breakthrough. Mediators in Qatar say the talks are in their final stages, raising hopes that an agreement could be reached soon.
The Israeli military first established the “humanitarian zone” in October 2023 to “protectionof the population “to keep innocent civilians out of harm’s way.”
On May 6, 2024, the IDF significantly expanded the area to include the cities of Khan Yunis and Deir al-Balah.
The region – which consists mostly of a strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea – is densely populated and has an estimated population of more than one million people, according to international humanitarian organizations. Many people are living in tents, with limited infrastructure and limited access to aid.
In a statement to BBC Verify, the Israeli military said it was targeting Hamas fighters operating in the “humanitarian zone” and accused the group of violating international law while “exploiting” civilians as human shields and launching rockets from the zone.
Israel launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the group's attack on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
The conflict caused widespread damage to infrastructure across Gaza, with satellite images showing areas flattened by Israeli strikes. The Hamas-run Ministry of Health also says that more than 46,600 people have been killed inside the Strip since the beginning of the war.
BBC Verify analysis suggests attacks within the “humanitarian zone” have intensified since May 2024, with at least 22 raids recorded so far this month.
Local media reports indicate that more than 550 people were killed in the 97 raids identified by BBC Verify.
The BBC cannot verify that all incidents were the result of IDF attacks. Israeli military officials have publicly acknowledged 28 attacks since May 6, but have not confirmed their involvement in the other attacks documented by BBC Investigation.
Gavin Kelleher, Gaza access director for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), said there were “almost daily” raids inside the area, including from Israeli ships, quadcopters, or small drones.
He added, “Intense fires are recurring in this area despite its unilateral (Israeli) classification as 'humanitarian'.”
“The Israeli military appears to be keen to maintain the illusion of a humanitarian zone that remains of a certain size, yet that zone could be subject to evacuation orders at any time and could be targeted,” Kelleher said.
Khaled Abdel Rahman, a resident who lives within the area, told the BBC that residents are subjected to daily bombing, which often leads to injuries and casualties.
Abdul Rahman said: “We were displaced to Khan Yunis because it was designated as a safe area, but in reality we find nothing here except insecurity.” “We have been deprived of a true sense of security, as fear has taken over our lives.”
like Israel does not allow foreign journalists to enter Gaza – Aside from heavily monitored trips with the Israeli military – international media, including the BBC, rely on images collected by Palestinian journalists and Gazans.
To track attacks within the IDF's “humanitarian zone,” BBC Verify monitored Palestinian social media channels and the IDF's official Instagram, Telegram and X channels. Reports of the strikes, which included verified images from within the area's borders, were then compared with local sources. Media reports to determine the reported death toll.
It is important to note that the death toll cannot be verified based on videos and social media reports alone. BBC Verified's analysis excluded reports of deaths as there were no verifiable images confirming that the incident occurred within the IDF's designated “humanitarian zone” boundaries.
BBC Verify reviewed more than 300 videos and photos posted since May in the “humanitarian zone.” While it is not always possible to distinguish between combatants and civilians, the footage shows dozens of people, including women and children, being pulled from under the rubble. Some appeared dead, while others suffered severe burns or serious injuries to their limbs, along with collapsed buildings, destroyed tents and burned cars.
Said Jaras/AFP via Getty ImagesSeven documented airstrikes were reported to have killed 20 or more people each, with the deadliest attack on July 13 killing 20 or more people. More than 90 deathsAccording to the Gaza Ministry of Health, first responders and paramedics.
The Israeli army later said The military leader of Hamas, Muhammad al-DeifAnd he was among the dead. Al-Dhaif is accused of being one of the people responsible for planning the October 7 attacks.
Nine raids occurred within 100 meters of the buildings belonging to Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, and four raids occurred within 150 meters of the mosque. Nasser Medical Complex In Khan Yunis.
The IDF told BBC Verify that the strikes were carried out “against terrorists and terrorist infrastructure including rocket launchers, weapons depots, manufacturing sites, operational apartments, underground infrastructure, operational headquarters and terrorist hideouts.”
It also included links to six of their previously published statements about Hamas fighters operating in the “humanitarian zone.”
Residents of the region also live under a state of constant uncertainty. Including evacuation notices, the boundaries of the “humanitarian zone” have changed 20 times – varying in area from about 7 square kilometers (2.7 square miles) when it was first introduced to 72 square kilometers (27.8 square miles) at its largest. .
The Israeli army said that the evacuation notices “do not constitute a reduction of the humanitarian zone. Once the danger passes, the residents return.” But it is unclear how residents know it is safe to return, and the IDF has only twice posted on social media to say so explicitly. The BBC's investigation did not include strikes within areas where evacuation notices were issued in our count.
While the Israeli military avoided using the term “safe zone,” its statements led civilians to interpret the “humanitarian zone” as such. IDF evacuation notices include language telling civilians: Like this one released in mid-December “For your safety, move west immediately to the humanitarian zone.”
It also described the area as “designated for humanitarian aid and shelters as part of the IDF's ongoing efforts to protect non-participating residents.”
but United Nations And international humanitarian organizations working in Gaza They said there's no such thing as a “safe zone.” Which is implemented unilaterally.
“We have said it many times,” said Juliette Touma, of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). “There is no safe area in Gaza. There is no safe place. No one is safe. There is no safe place.”
Additional reporting by Paul Brown.
