Gaza Strip — As fighting intensifies across Gaza, Israel has quietly discontinued its policy of designating “humanitarian zones” — areas previously marked as safe for civilians — prompting urgent concern among international aid organizations.
Initially established in December 2023, these humanitarian zones, such as al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, and Deir al-Balah, were meant to provide refuge for civilians during intense military operations. Maps posted online and dropped by air identified these locations, drawing over a million displaced Palestinians seeking shelter.
However, even these so-called safe areas were far from secure. Official reports confirmed at least 28 Israeli airstrikes on the zones before January, while a BBC investigation recorded as many as 97 strikes, resulting in 550 deaths. Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) argued that Hamas militants were exploiting these zones to shield themselves and launch attacks.
Since the collapse of the ceasefire with Hamas in March, all mentions of humanitarian zones have been removed from military maps. Israel has resumed widespread airstrikes and expanded territorial control by establishing “security buffer zones,” with the United Nations estimating that roughly 70% of Gaza is now under evacuation orders or designated as “no-go zones.”
During private meetings with aid agencies, Israeli authorities have reportedly sidestepped questions about reinstating humanitarian zones, suggesting no guarantees for civilian or aid worker safety can currently be offered. The IDF has not officially responded to inquiries on the matter.
Despite the dangers, tens of thousands of Palestinians continue to gather in al-Mawasi, clinging to the hope that it remains a sanctuary. However, UN reports confirm at least 23 airstrikes on the area since the ceasefire ended, including recent attacks on refugee camps that killed at least 16 civilians.
“Images of children burning while sheltering in makeshift tents should shake us all to our core,” said UNICEF’s Executive Director, Catherine Russell, condemning the strikes.
Nasser, a displaced father of four who once sought refuge in al-Mawasi, described horrific living conditions — overcrowding, lack of clean water, and frequent airstrikes. “Nowhere is safe,” he said. “We don’t know what to do.”
Compounding the crisis, the UN has issued a stark famine warning for Gaza following a 50-day total Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid. Israeli airstrikes continue to claim civilian lives, with 17 more deaths reported on Tuesday alone.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), described Gaza as a “land of desperation,” accusing Israel of using humanitarian aid as “a bargaining chip and a weapon of war.” Jens Laerke from the UN’s humanitarian office OCHA echoed the alarm, calling the current situation “probably the worst humanitarian crisis we have seen throughout the war in Gaza.”
As aid dwindles and violence escalates, Gaza’s 2 million residents face an increasingly desperate and uncertain future.