The so-called “safe humanitarian zones” within the Gaza Strip, designated by Israeli forces, have been largely destroyed, leaving only 9.5% of Gaza’s territory as a haven for displaced civilians, according to a report released by the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza on Saturday.
The statement details a systematic reduction in these safe zones since the beginning of Israel’s ground invasion in November 2023. Initially, these zones comprised 230 square kilometers (89 square miles), covering 63% of Gaza’s total area. The zones included crucial agricultural land, commercial establishments, and service facilities, offering a semblance of safety for the hundreds of thousands of civilians forced to flee from northern Gaza to the south.
However, as Israel’s military operations intensified, the size of these zones dramatically decreased. By early December 2023, following incursions into Khan Younis, the safe areas were reduced to 140 square kilometers (54 square miles), accounting for only 38.3% of Gaza’s area.
The downward trend continued with each successive military action. During Israel’s incursion into Rafah in May 2024, the humanitarian zones were slashed to 79 square kilometers (30.5 square miles), representing just 20% of Gaza’s territory. By mid-June, the areas were further reduced to 60 square kilometers (23 square miles), or 16.4% of Gaza’s land.
The most severe reductions occurred in the following months. By mid-July 2024, the “safe” areas had shrunk to 48 square kilometers (18.5 square miles), a mere 13.15% of Gaza’s total area. As of August 2024, only 35 square kilometers (13.5 square miles) remain as designated safe zones—just 9.5% of Gaza’s territory. The report highlights that this remaining area includes only 3.5% of agricultural, service, and commercial zones, leaving civilians with almost no refuge from the ongoing violence.
The destruction of these safe zones has exacerbated Gaza’s already dire humanitarian crisis. The region, under a suffocating blockade, faces critical shortages of food, clean water, and medicine. Local health authorities report over 40,200 Palestinian deaths—mostly women and children—and more than 93,000 injuries since Israel’s offensive began following the events of October 7.
Despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, Israel continues its military operations in Gaza. The International Court of Justice has accused Israel of genocide and ordered a halt to military actions, particularly in Rafah, where over a million Palestinians sought refuge before the May 6 invasion.
The ongoing conflict has left much of Gaza in ruins, with civilians struggling to find safety as the once-designated “safe humanitarian zones” are reduced to rubble and ashes.
