Almost 100 strikes located in Gaza 'humanitarian zone', BBC Verify analysis suggests

An analysis by the BBC Verify team shows that areas of Gaza designated by the Israeli military as “safe” have been hit 97 times since May. This finding comes as ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas appear to be nearing a breakthrough. Mediators from Qatar have indicated that talks are in the final stages, raising hopes for a deal soon.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) first established “humanitarian zones” in October 2023, with the intention of “protecting” residents and keeping “innocent civilians out of harm’s way.” On May 6, 2024, the IDF significantly expanded the zone to include cities such as Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah. According to estimates by international humanitarian organizations, the zone – a narrow strip mostly along the Mediterranean coast – is densely populated, housing over one million people. Many live in tents with limited infrastructure and access to aid.

In a statement to BBC Verify, the IDF said they are targeting Hamas militants operating in the “humanitarian zones,” accusing the group of violating international law by “using” civilians as human shields and firing rockets from the area. Israel launched its operation to destroy Hamas in response to the group’s attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 251 others.

The conflict has caused widespread damage to infrastructure in Gaza, with satellite images showing some areas have been razed by Israeli strikes. The Hamas-run health ministry also says more than 46,600 people have died in the enclave since the start of the war. BBC Verify's analysis indicates that attacks within the “humanitarian zones” have intensified since May 2024, with at least 22 attacks recorded this month alone.

Local media reports suggest that more than 550 people have died in the 97 attacks recorded by BBC Verify. BBC Verify has been unable to confirm that all the incidents were the result of IDF strikes. Israeli military officials have publicly acknowledged 28 attacks since May 6, but have not confirmed involvement in the other attacks recorded by BBC Verify. Gavin Cailleach, the Norwegian Refugee Council's (NRC) access manager in Gaza, says there are attacks “almost daily” within the zone, including from Israeli boats and quadcopters or small drones.

Cailleach added, “Despite Israel unilaterally designating it as a ‘humanitarian’ area, it is still regularly subjected to heavy fire.” He also stated, “It appears that the Israeli military is keen to maintain the façade of a ‘humanitarian zone’ that remains a certain size, but which may be subject to ‘evacuation orders’ and targeted at any time.”

Khalid Abdul Rahman, a resident living within the zone, told the BBC that residents are bombed daily, often resulting in casualties. “We were displaced to Khan Younis because it was designated as a safe zone, but what we actually found here was nothing but insecurity,” Rahman said. “We are deprived of real safety, and fear dominates our lives.”

As Israel does not allow foreign journalists into Gaza – except for highly controlled, escorted trips by its military – international media, including the BBC, rely on images gathered by Palestinian journalists and residents of Gaza. To track attacks within the IDF’s “humanitarian zones,” BBC Verify monitored Palestinian social media channels, as well as the IDF’s official channels on Instagram, Telegram, and X. Reports of attacks containing verified images from within the zone’s boundaries were cross-referenced with local media reports to determine reported death tolls.

It is important to note that death tolls cannot be verified solely by video and social media reports. BBC Verify's analysis excluded reports of deaths where there were no verifiable images confirming the event occurred within the boundaries of the IDF-defined “humanitarian zone.” BBC Verify reviewed more than 300 videos and photos posted from within the “humanitarian zone” since May. While it was not always possible to distinguish between militants and civilians, footage showed many people, including women and children, being pulled from the rubble. Some appeared lifeless, while others had severe burns or grievous limb injuries, alongside collapsed buildings, destroyed tents, and burned-out cars.

Seven of the recorded attacks reportedly resulted in more than 20 deaths each, with the deadliest occurring on July 13, which, according to the Gaza health ministry, paramedics, and medics, resulted in more than 90 deaths. The IDF later said that Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif was among the dead. Deif was accused of being one of the masterminds behind the October 7 attacks. Nine attacks occurred within 100 meters of the buildings of the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, and four occurred within 150 meters of the Nasser Medical Center in Khan Younis.

The IDF told BBC Verify that the attacks were “directed at terrorists and terrorist infrastructure, including rocket launchers, weapons depots and manufacturing sites, combat apartments, underground infrastructure, operational headquarters and terrorist hideouts.” They also provided links to six of their previously issued statements regarding Hamas militants operating in the “humanitarian zones.” Residents of the zone also live with constant uncertainty. The boundaries of the “humanitarian zone,” including evacuation notices, have changed 20 times – varying in size from approximately 7 square kilometers (2.7 square miles) when initially introduced to a maximum of 72 square kilometers (27.8 square miles).

The IDF states that evacuation notices “do not constitute a reduction of the humanitarian zone. Residents return once the danger has passed.” However, it is unclear how residents know when it is safe to return, with the IDF only making two explicit statements on social media to indicate safety. BBC Verify did not include attacks within areas where evacuation notices had been issued in their tally. While the Israeli military has avoided using the term “safe zone,” its statements have led civilians to understand the “humanitarian zones” as such. The IDF’s evacuation notices used such wording, for example in a mid-December notice telling civilians to “move immediately west to the humanitarian zone for your own safety.”

It also described the zone as “designated for humanitarian aid and shelter, as part of the IDF’s ongoing effort to protect the population not involved in the conflict.” However, the UN and international humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza say there is no such thing as a unilaterally enforced “safe zone.” Juliette Touma of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said: “We have said it many times. There is no safe zone in Gaza. Nowhere is safe. Nobody is safe. Nowhere is spared.”