Almost 100 attacks in Gaza ‘humanitarian zone’, according to BBC Verify

The area of ​​Gaza where Israel’s army has told people to go “for their safety” has been hit by 97 attacks since May, BBC Verify analysis has revealed.

The findings come as ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas appear to be nearing a breakthrough. Mediators in Qatar say talks are in their final stages, raising hopes that a deal could be reached soon.

The “humanitarian zone” was first established by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in October 2023 to “protection” from residents to “keep innocent civilians out of harm’s way.”

On May 6, 2024, the IDF significantly expanded the zone to include the cities of Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah.

The area, much of which is a strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea, is densely populated, with more than a million people estimated to live there, according to international humanitarian organizations. Many people live in tents, with limited infrastructure and limited access to aid.

In a statement to BBC Verify, the IDF said it was attacking Hamas fighters operating in the “humanitarian zone” and accused the group of violating international law by “exploiting” civilians as human shields and launching rockets from the area. .

Israel launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the group’s attack on October 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people were killed and another 251 were taken hostage.

The conflict has caused widespread damage to infrastructure across Gaza, and satellite images show areas devastated by Israeli strikes. The Hamas-run Health Ministry also says more than 46,600 people have been killed in the enclave since the start of the war.

BBC Verify analysis suggests that attacks within the “humanitarian zone” have intensified since May 2024, with at least 22 attacks already recorded so far this month.

Local media reports indicate that more than 550 people have been killed in the 97 attacks mapped by BBC Verify.

BBC Verify cannot confirm that all incidents are the result of IDF attacks. Israeli military officials have publicly acknowledged 28 attacks since May 6, but did not confirm their involvement in the others documented by BBC Verify.

Gavin Kelleher, access manager in Gaza for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), said there were “almost daily” attacks within the area, including from Israeli boats and quadcopters, or small drones.

He added that “intense fire is recurring in this area despite its (Israel’s) unilateral designation as ‘humanitarian’.”

“The Israeli military seems willing to maintain the illusion of a humanitarian zone that remains of a certain size, but that zone can be subject to ‘evacuation orders’ at any time and come under attack,” Mr. Kelleher said.

A resident living within the area, Khaled Abdel Rahman, told the BBC that residents were being subjected to daily shelling, often resulting in injuries and casualties.

“We were displaced to Khan Younis because it was designated as a safe zone, but in reality we found nothing but insecurity here,” Rahman said. “We have been denied a true sense of security and fear dominates our lives.”

As Israel does not allow foreign journalists access to Gaza (apart from highly controlled and escorted trips by their military), international media, including the BBC, rely on images collected by Palestinian journalists and Gaza residents.

To track attacks within the IDF’s “humanitarian area”, BBC Verify monitored Palestinian social media channels and official IDF channels on Instagram, Telegram and of the boundaries of the area with local information. media reports to determine the number of reported deaths.

It is important to note that the death toll cannot be verified based solely on videos and social media reports. BBC Verify’s analysis excluded death reports where there was no verifiable footage confirming that the incident occurred within the IDF-defined boundaries of the “humanitarian area.”

BBC Verify reviewed more than 300 videos and photographs posted since May in the “humanitarian zone”. While it is not always possible to distinguish between combatants and civilians, images show dozens of people, including women and children, being pulled from the rubble. Some appeared lifeless, while others suffered severe burns or significant injuries to their extremities, along with collapsed buildings, destroyed tents and torched cars.

Seven of the documented attacks reportedly killed 20 or more people each, with the deadliest on July 13 resulting in more than 90 deathsaccording to the Gaza Ministry of Health, lifeguards and doctors.

The IDF later said Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif.was among the dead. Deif is accused of being one of those responsible for planning the October 7 attacks.

Nine attacks occurred within 100 m of buildings belonging to the Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah, and four within 150 m of the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis.

The IDF told BBC Verify that the attacks were carried out “against terrorists and terrorist infrastructure, including rocket launchers, weapons warehouses and manufacturing sites, operational apartments, underground infrastructure, operational headquarters and terrorist hideouts.”

They also included links to six of his previously published statements about Hamas fighters operating in the “humanitarian zone.”

Residents of the area also live under constant uncertainty. Including evacuation notices, the “humanitarian area” boundary has changed 20 times – and has varied in size from around 7 square kilometers (2.7 square miles) when it was first introduced to 72 square kilometers (27.8 square miles) in its largest part. .

The IDF said the evacuation notices “do not constitute a reduction of the humanitarian zone. Once the danger has passed, residents return.” But it is unclear how residents know it is safe to return, and the IDF has only posted twice on social media to say so explicitly. BBC Verify did not include strikes within areas where evacuation notices were issued in our count.

While the Israeli military has avoided using the term “safe zone,” its statements have led civilians to interpret the “humanitarian zone” as such. IDF evacuation notices include language informing civilians: like this one that was published in mid-December – “for your own safety, go immediately west towards the humanitarian zone.”

He also described the area as “designated for humanitarian aid and shelters as part of the IDF’s ongoing efforts to protect the uninvolved population.”

But the UN and international humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza They have said that there is no “safe zone” which is applied unilaterally.

Juliette Touma of the UN Palestinian refugee agency Unrwa said: “We have said it many times. There is no safe zone in Gaza. No place is safe. No one is safe. No place is safe.”

Additional reporting by Paul Brown.