Israeli Military’s Humanitarian Zone in Gaza Shrinks Amid Ongoing Conflict

Israeli Military’s Humanitarian Zone in Gaza Continues to Dwindle

The Israeli military has established a single area within the Gaza Strip that it designates as a “humanitarian zone” for those displaced by ongoing hostilities. However, this designated area has been progressively shrinking. In a recent development, the military announced on Saturday the evacuation of two additional regions in central Gaza that were previously part of this humanitarian zone. This latest round of evacuations has compelled over 200,000 Palestinians to relocate within just the past week, according to reports from the United Nations.

An analysis conducted by the New York Times indicates that the humanitarian zone has contracted by more than 20% in recent weeks. Initially, this area encompassed nearly 17% of the Gaza Strip, but it has now dwindled to just 13%. Examination of maps and satellite imagery reveals that the remaining zone is already severely overcrowded, repeatedly subjected to military strikes, and lacking essential medical services.

The Israeli military justifies its recent evacuation orders and operations by asserting that they are aimed at combating a resurgence of Hamas insurgency. The military has accused Hamas of launching rockets from the areas that are now under evacuation orders, which were issued on Sunday.

This constant alteration of the humanitarian zone’s boundaries adds yet another layer of hardship for the 2.2 million residents of Gaza. Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations agency responsible for aiding Palestinians, remarked on Sunday that the evacuation orders have impacted “almost everyone in Gaza.” He further noted that many families have been forced to flee from their homes as often as once a month since the onset of the conflict in October.