NBC News reported on incidents where areas designated as safe zones by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) were later targeted in strikes, leading to the deaths of multiple civilians. In Rafah’s Tal Al Sultan neighborhood, which was marked as safe in leaflets dropped by the IDF, 15 people died in a strike on the Nofal family home less than a month later. Another strike hit the Al Shaboura refugee camp, listed as a safe zone as well, resulting in numerous casualties, including women and children.
On April 20, a building in Al Shaboura was leveled by an air attack, resulting in the death of Sabreen Sakani, who was 30 weeks pregnant at the time. Medics were able to perform a posthumous cesarean section, saving her baby, Sabreen Alrouh Joudeh, who later succumbed to respiratory problems and died days after being born. Despite being assured by Israeli officials that areas like Al-Mawasi in Khan Younis would be safe, multiple strikes occurred in the area, leading to the deaths of several individuals, including children in a tent hit by a strike on Jan. 4.
Despite providing the IDF with GPS coordinates for seven strikes in safe zones, the IDF denied knowledge of any strikes at the locations provided. The IDF also blamed Hamas for allegedly instructing people to ignore evacuation directives, asserting its commitment to international law and distinguishing between terrorists and civilians in its operations against Hamas. Human Rights Watch representatives noted that Palestinians have attempted to follow Israeli instructions but have still been targeted in strikes even after evacuating to designated safe areas.
NBC News documented the discrepancies between areas marked as safe zones by the IDF and the incidents of strikes occurring in these supposedly protected areas. Survivors recounted their harrowing experiences of moving to homes or refugee camps believing they were safe, only to be targeted in deadly strikes just days or weeks later. Despite efforts by civilians to adhere to evacuation orders and relocate to areas deemed safe, the ongoing violence and strikes have led to numerous casualties, raising questions about the effectiveness and reliability of IDF’s assurances of safety in certain zones. The tragic deaths of innocent civilians, including children and unborn babies, highlight the devastating impact of conflict on civilian populations caught in the crossfire.
