IDF map shows ‘dangerous combat zone’ not covered by evacuation orderspublished at 10:15 British Summer Time
10:15 BST
Benedict Garman
BBC Verify senior journalist
We’ve been monitoring evacuation notices and areas the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has designated military zones since the ceasefire ended in March. This allows us to assess which areas of Gaza are effectively inaccessible to people living there.
The most recent official evacuation notice was issued just over a week ago for parts of Deir al Balah.
However, a map released on Sunday by the IDF designated a new section of central Gaza as a “dangerous combat zone,” without providing an evacuation notice for the area.
The map divides areas into white and red zones, indicating whether they are covered by the recently announced “tactical” humanitarian pause or remain permanent danger zones. It warns people inside the Strip that entering a red zone “is dangerous and puts your life at risk.”
The newly-affected area is called Al Mughraqa, north east of Nuseirat – highlighted in dark red on the map below. It covers about 3.7 sq kms and is now marked as a red “dangerous” zone.
Gazans had already been displaced from this area, which served as part of an Israeli-controlled military corridor before the ceasefire. It has likely remained uninhabited, as satellite imagery shows that nearly every building has been completely demolished.
