On September 6, 2025, the Israeli military announced the creation of a new "humanitarian area" in the southern Gaza Strip, specifically in Khan Younis and Al-Mawasi, as part of its expanding offensive to seize control of Gaza City. The move comes amid deepening humanitarian catastrophe, widespread displacement, and mounting international scrutiny over the conduct and consequences of the nearly two-year-long war.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the newly designated humanitarian area in Khan Younis includes field hospitals, water pipelines, water desalination facilities, and ongoing deliveries of tents, food, and medical supplies. The IDF stated that these efforts are being coordinated with the United Nations and other international organizations. However, as reported by the Associated Press and confirmed by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the declaration of this so-called "humanitarian zone" was made unilaterally by Israeli authorities, and the U.N. and wider humanitarian community are not part of the designation. Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for OCHA, emphasized, "The U.N. is staying in Gaza City to provide aid and warns that the continued offensive will push people into an even deeper catastrophe."
The Israeli military called on Palestinians in Gaza City—home to nearly one million people—to evacuate to the designated area in the south. Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted on X that Muwasi, a makeshift tent camp in southern Gaza, was declared a humanitarian area, and residents could travel there via a designated road without being searched. The area includes the block where Nasser Hospital is located, though the hospital itself is not under evacuation despite its proximity to a red zone. Last week, Israel struck Nasser Hospital, killing 22 people, including journalist Mariam Dagga, as reported by The Associated Press.
Despite these evacuation orders, many Palestinians in Gaza City remain reluctant or unable to leave. "They only order us to leave from one town to another? What are we going to do with our children? Those who have an ill person, or an elderly or a wounded, where are we going to take them?" said a woman identifying herself as Um Haitham, echoing the fears and exhaustion of families who have been displaced multiple times. Aid groups have repeatedly warned that a large-scale evacuation would exacerbate the dire humanitarian situation. Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, stated in August, "It is impossible that a mass evacuation of Gaza City could ever be done in a way that is safe and dignified under the current conditions."
Gaza’s infrastructure has been devastated. Both Al-Mawasi and Khan Younis, the areas designated as safe zones, have suffered heavy damage during the war, and it remains unclear how much humanitarian assistance is actually available. The Israeli military agency COGAT claims the facilities are operational, but independent verification is impossible due to ongoing hostilities and destruction.
The war’s toll on civilians continues to mount. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 64,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, with women and children making up about half the dead. The U.N. and independent experts consider the Health Ministry to be the most reliable source for casualty figures, though Israel disputes these numbers and has not provided its own. The war began after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages. Most of the hostages have since been released in ceasefires or other agreements, but 48 are believed to remain in Gaza, with 20 thought to be alive.
Israeli military operations have intensified in recent days, particularly in Gaza City. On September 5 and 6, the IDF began targeting high-rise buildings, which it described as Hamas strongholds. One nearly 20-story building was completely destroyed. The military announced, "In the coming days, the IDF will carry out precise, targeted strikes against terrorist infrastructure that poses a direct threat to IDF troops," adding that towers would be targeted only after residents received evacuation warnings. Defense Minister Israel Katz declared, "The lock has been lifted from the gates of hell in Gaza," in his characteristically hyperbolic style.
Airstrikes have continued unabated. On September 6, Israeli forces struck another high-rise building in Gaza City, claiming it was used by Hamas, marking the second such attack in two days. The military also issued warnings for two more high-rise buildings and the tents around them, saying Hamas had infrastructure inside or nearby. Hamas denied these accusations, insisting the buildings were residential. The aftermath of these strikes has been grim: officials at Shifa Hospital reported receiving the bodies of 15 people, including a family of five killed in the Shati refugee camp, and others killed by Israeli gunfire while seeking aid near the Zikim crossing.
Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital, described the escalating crisis: "The situation is very serious. Frankly, among the worst we have ever known." He reported a significant concentration of bombardments on tents and homes of displaced people in western Gaza City, with dozens of wounded arriving daily. "Every day, we receive dozens of wounded from these bombardments, which occur almost every hour, every minute," he said.
Despite Israel's assurances about the safety of designated humanitarian areas, there is widespread skepticism. The New York Times and BBC have both reported that Israel has previously struck these so-called safe zones, including Muwasi and Al-Mawasi, sometimes resulting in significant casualties. Hamas has called on Gazans to remain in their residential areas, arguing there are no safe zones in southern Gaza.
The war’s relentless pace has left most of Gaza’s population displaced, many having crisscrossed the territory multiple times in search of safety. Gaza City’s hundreds of thousands of residents are now sheltering in ruined buildings and tent encampments, with famine conditions reported by a U.N.-backed group of food experts. The U.N. has warned that further intensification of military operations will cause "catastrophe" for civilians and has pledged to continue providing aid to those who remain.
Meanwhile, the offensive has sparked protests within Israel itself, as families of hostages held in Gaza express fear that the ongoing operations will endanger their loved ones. On September 6, families thanked former U.S. President Donald Trump and his envoy Steve Witkoff for their "unwavering determination, courage and compassion" in advancing ceasefire negotiations, adding, "True leadership is measured by bold decisions." However, a lasting ceasefire remains out of reach. Hamas has said it would release the remaining hostages only in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire, and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza—terms Israel has so far rejected, insisting the war will continue until all hostages are freed and Hamas is disarmed.
As the ground offensive and airstrikes persist, the people of Gaza face an uncertain and perilous future, caught between shifting frontlines, contested safe zones, and the enduring demands of war and survival.