A report published by Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq titled “How to Hide a Genocide: The Role of Evacuation Orders and Safe Zones in Israel’s Genocidal Campaign in Gaza” accuses Israel of using “safe zones” to disguise its systematic targeting and displacement of Palestinians. According to the report, over 1.9 million Palestinians have been forcibly transferred into areas comprising less than 20% of Gaza’s territory, labeled as “safe zones,” where they face lethal airstrikes, physical and psychological warfare, and extreme deprivation of basic needs like food, water, shelter, and medical care.

The report claims that Israel’s evacuation orders, presented as humanitarian measures to minimize civilian casualties, serve to consolidate its genocidal campaign. These orders have forced over 90% of Gaza’s population, including vulnerable groups such as the elderly, disabled, and children, into overcrowded areas. Many of these so-called safe zones have been repeatedly bombed by Israeli forces, turning them into sites of immense suffering. Al-Haq draws parallels between the situation in Gaza and the genocide of Bosnian Muslims in the 1990s, citing similar tactics of repeated displacement and separation of families.

In the past 15 months of conflict, heavy weaponry has been deliberately deployed to maximize casualties in these densely populated zones. Al-Haq emphasizes that the ongoing devastation in Gaza represents not just a humanitarian crisis but an orchestrated campaign to destroy Palestinian life. The group calls for global accountability and intervention to address the violations of international law and the destruction of Gaza’s population under the guise of protection.